https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/enter...bit/index.html
(CNN)Bill Withers, the singer-songwriter whose soulful hits "Lean On Me," Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lovely Day" became part of the soundtrack for a generation, has died.
He was 81.
Withers died Monday in Los Angeles of heart complications, according to his family.
"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other," his family said in a statement obtained by CNN. "As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and friends, his music forever belongs to the world. In this difficult time, we pray his music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones."
His songs have been considered timeless and "Lean On Me" has experienced a resurgence during the coronavirus pandemic because of its uplifting message of community support.
"Bill Withers is the closest thing black people have to a Bruce Springsteen," musician Quest Love told Rolling Stone in 2015.
Withers passing was mourned Friday across musical genres and walks of life on Twitter
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