Hello Panko.
Thank you for the mention and thanks for your perspectives. I too liked the singer/songwriter 'Bill Withers' and agree wholeheartedly that his lyrics and singing were superb. I had never heard of him until years after I adopted his name as a nom de plume. However, that did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm and admiration for him when he did appear on the music scene.
Here's hoping you read my eulogy to him when he finally died, but if you didn't, I will reproduce it for you below to maybe jog some pleasant memories.
Best wishes
Bill
A EULOGY TO BILL WITHERS (1938-2020).
I thought I ought to write some rhyme,
acknowledging that over time,
Bill and I have shared a name,
which may have brought us both some fame.
Whilst Bill's fame was on the stage,
mine was on the written page,
and he had talent with his songs
while I was busy righting wrongs.
I had a great respect for Bill,
and now he's dead I have this still,
for all his music will live on
long after Bill is dead and gone.
I admired Bill because
in his early life he was
not from a privileged descent
and yet, he made that great ascent.
From a poor start, he did not stop
until he rose right to the top,
and through his songs he took control,
expressing himself through his soul.
For him, singing was a career,
where he created atmosphere,
and mesmerised by mellow voice
people listened out of choice.
I loved the way his mellow sound
encompassed me and would surround
me with a sense of contentment
whilst listening to his sentiment.
The fact that we both shared a name,
did not mean we were the same,
but if we had been in some way
then I would think that was okay.
B. Withers 2020
