简介：BillWithers'songsrunthroughourmemories:"Ain'tNoSunshine,""LeanonMe,""UseMe,""Grandma'sHands."Learningtherewasanewdocumentaryabouthim,Iwonderedhowlongagohedied.Theansweris,hestilllivesandsurvivesasahappyman."StillBill"isaboutamanwhotoppedthecharts,walkedawayfromitallin1985andispleasedthathedid. Hedidn'tburnout.Hehasn'tburnedout.Hewasfreeofthedemonsofdrinkanddrugs.Heisstillhappilymarriedtohisfirstandonlywife.Hisgrownkidsstillliveathome--Kori,whowouldliketofollowherdadintomusic,andTodd,whoisalawstudent.Marcia,hiswife,hasherMBAfromUCLAandhasmanifestlylookedaftertheirfinances,aswecanguessafteralookaroundtheirramblinghilltophomeinahigh-pricedareaofLosAngeles. Billis71.HewasborninthemiddleofthesegregatedSouthinthemininghamletofSlabFork,W.Va.Didthatexperienceleavescars?Notdeepones,apparently.Onahomecomingtripforaclassreunion,hewalksthelittletownwithachildhoodfriend,nowthemayor,andtheyrecallskinny-dippinginthecreekandwalkingtoschool.Yes,theyhadtogotothebackdoorofthegrocerystoretogetanicecreamcone.Heseemstoremembertheicecreambetterthanthebackdoor.Andheremembershisgrandmothersittingonthefrontporchandsinging. BillWitherswasscarred,however.Hehadaseriousstutteruntilhewas20.Wedon'tlearnwhyitwentaway.Maybemusichelped.Themostemotionalscenesin"StillBill"showhimacceptinganawardfromastutterers'association,andthentalkingwitharoomfulofkidswhostutter.Hisadviceiscalm:Heidentifieswiththem,heobservesthatstutteringcanmakeotherpeoplenervous,hesays"wehavetogojustthatlittlebitfurthertohelpthemfeelatease." Hewipesawaysometearsinhiseyes,andwesuspecttheyhavebeenunshedsincechildhood.Laterherecallsbeingtauntedto"spititout!"--asifstutteringwerehisdecision.Hesayshedecidedwhileyoungtomakethemostofhisopportunities,anddid.Hestudied,joinedtheNavy,didn'townaguitaruntil1970,andachievedhisfirsthitrecord,"Ain'tNoSunshine,"in1971. Witherswasn'tpartofmainstreamsoulmusic.Heusedafewinstruments--guitar,bass,drums,piano--andnodrivingbeat.Hedependedonhispurebaritoneandhislyrics.Listenagainto"Ain'tNoSunshine,"andyourealizeitisararity:ahitsongthatisessentiallyjustamansinging. Later,heshuddersinrecallingarecordingexecutivewhowantedhimtodohisowncoverversionofElvisPresley's"IntheGhetto." Whydidhequit?Itwastimetoquit,hesays,whateverthatmeans.Hedidn'tfeeltheneedtotouryearafteryear,keepinghimselfinpeople'sminds."Onthewaytowonderful,"hesays,"you'llpassthroughallright.Stopandtakealookaround,becausethat'swhereyoumaybestaying."It'sobvioushe'shappilymarried.He'sclosetohiskids,andtheonlyothertimetherearetearsinthemovieiswhenheandhisdaughterlistentoasongshe'srecorded.Hishouseisnoticeablyspaciousandclutter-free,andsoishislife. Perhapsinanattempttoslipsome"meaning"intothefilm,thedocumentariansDamaniBakerandAlexVlackarrangeaconversationwiththescholarCornelWestandTavisSmileyfromPBS.Itfeelslikethey'retryingtoleadBillintoheavygeneralizations,buthewon'tgothere.WithersseemsasclosetoeverydayZenasIcanimagine.Hetalksagreatdealabouthisphilosophy,tobesure,butit'sdirectandmanifestlytrue:Makethemostofyourchances,dothebestyoucan,stopwhenyou'refinished,loveyourfamily,enjoylife. At70,hesingsonceinthefilm,atatributetohiminBrooklyn.Andinhishomerecordingstudio,heandguitaristandsongwriterRaulMidoncollaborateonasonginSpanish,whichIliked.Hestillhasthevoice,thechopsandthepresence.Buthedoesn'tfeelaneedtospenddaysandweeksawayfromhomeprovingthat.Hismusicendures."I'mlikepenniesinyourpocket,"hesays."Youknowthey'rethere,butyoudon'tthinkaboutthem."…