Great songs have a lasting impact. Take Bill Withers’ lyrics, for instance. His timeless words are an incandescent manifesto; a lighthouse in a storm.

In an interview, Withers, who died in 2020 at age 81, said, “Tomorrow’s coming. And you got to figure out a way to do tomorrow.”

He grew up in tiny Slab Fork, Raleigh County. He faced fierce prejudice from the music industry. Record companies micromanaged his music and life, stifling his creativity.

Today, West Virginians celebrate his greatness. A 7-foot-tall bronze statue in Beckley depicts him on sitting on a stool, playing guitar.

Withers is known for his luminous smile and unforgettable choruses: from “Ain’t No Sunshine”: “I know, I know, I know ...”; “Lovely Day” where the chorus repeats the title; and “Lean on Me”: “Call me, call

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