Older and wiser, but still fiesty

Been a fan of the man who wrote such hits as “Use Me,”  “Grandma’s Hands,” “Lovely Day,” and “Just The Two of Us” for years?  What about of the man who wrote such unsung cuts as “Rosie,” “”Hope She’ll Be Happier,” “Let Me Be The One You Need,” and “You Just Can’t Smile It Away?” His name is Bill Withers and filmmakers Damani Baker and Alex Vlack sat out to prove that the 71-year old blue-collar man from West Virginia even after years of success is just “Still Bill.” If you have a TV and some seating (though a community center would be even better), the filmmakers are allowing you to help them prove their case by hosting a screening of their ten-year project, “Still Bill,” basically for free.

Hitmaker right out the box!

That a documentary has not covered this living legend before now is stunning given the multitude of Withers’ accomplishments and the fact that Wither has remained relentlessly relevant for three generations. Hits “Who Is He (And What Is He To You)?,” “Lean On Me” and “Ain’t No Sunshine” each get nearly annual homage by artists in folk, rock, soul, gospel, and even hip hop. From Fox TV’s wildly popular Glee (“Lean On Me”) to Kanye West (“Roses”), Withers has remained a consistent source for timeless hits. Proving you’re never to old for stardom, the former Navy man and factory worker was 33 years old when his first album, “Just As I Am,” was released and catapulted him to fame. The film captures Withers amazing 15-year journey from his industry novice days to beleaguered veteran artist, one who’d become a two-time Hall of Famer, a multi-Grammy Award winner, an NAACP Image Awardee, and among the most covered and sampled R&B artist of the last thirty years.

Inside The Last Troubadour

Framing him as the perennial family man and no-nonsense musician, you can learn plenty about Withers the music man in “Still Bill,” but little of his private year with former wife and actress Denise Nicholas (Room 222, In The Heat of the Night) and the publicly unsubstantiated rumors of domestic violence that supposedly led to their speedy divorce. Instead, Withers 34-year marriage to his wife Marcia Johnson and his life as a father of two children, Todd and Kori, is more prominently on display. The white-washing omission is curious given the rare opportunity the usually straight-talking Withers has to set the record straight, but there is enough fascinating material here to make “Still Bill” an extremely worthwhile viewing experience without it becoming an episode of “Behind The Music.” But don’t take my word for it, find out for yourself, host an inside look at Bill Withers with “Still Bill.”

TAGS: "Still Bill", Bill Withers