Bill Withers made his last record in 1985 and stepped out of the spotlight. He’d had enough of fame, he was weary of the hassles of the music business, and he yearned for a quiet life with his wife and kids.
But it’s hard to fade into the background when you’ve put out songs like “Lean on Me,” “Just the Two of Us” and “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone.” Withers’ voice is still heard so often, it’s as if he never left the stage.
And that voice is coming to Salisbury 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17 when the film “Still Bill” is screened in the Looking Glass Artist Collective’s Black Box Theater, 405 N. Lee St.
Filmmakers Damani Baker and Alex Vlack managed to get the reclusive Withers to participate in the telling of his life story for this award-winning documentary. The film includes concert footage, interviews with music celebrities and Withers’ family and friends, and even takes a trip to his birthplace, Slab Fork, W.Va.óa world away from Withers’ current Hollywood home.
The film, which took a decade to produce, features a soundtrack including previously unreleased tracks.
“Still Bill” is being distributed nationwide by B-Side, a company that represents a new model for distribution of independent films. These companies take the films straight to the people, offering the films with accompanying promotional materials to fans, film clubs, radio stations ó anybody who wants to sign up to show and promote the films.
B-Side provides Web sites to over 250 film festivals in the U.S. where people can rate the films they’ve seen and share information. B-Side reports that more than four million film fans have visited its sites. Out of Our Minds Animation Studios of Winston-Salem is bringing “Still Bill” to Salisbury. For more information about the film, visit www.stillbillthemovie.com.
“Still Bill” will be shown 7 p.m., Dec. 17 at LGAC, 405 N. Lee St. Admission is $5. Students admitted free with ID. No advance ticket sales. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Concessions will be available. For information, call 704-633-2787, contact salisburyartists@gmail.com or visit www.salisburyartists.org.