Singer-songwriter Bill Withers passed away Friday morning (April 3) due to heart complications, The Associated Press confirmed in a statement from Withers' family. He was 81. The West Virginia native was renowned for his numerous soulful hits in the 70's, which included "Just the Two of Us," "Lovely Day," "Lean on Me," and more.
The soul legend won three Grammy Awards during his career and Questlove's even called him the "closest thing black people have to a Bruce Springsteen." Withers' impact is still felt in the music world today, as his discography's DNA has seeped into just about every genre through interpolations and hidden samples.