MASS MoCA's Larger Than Life Doc Series Continues with Still Bill

11:40AM / Friday, January 23, 2009

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Best known for his classics Ain't No Sunshine, Grandma's Hands, Lean on Me, Lovely Day, and Just the Two of Us, singer-songwriter Bill Withers' musical life is just one part of what makes him such an intriguing character. A project eight years in the making, the documentary film Still Bill traces Withers' remarkable life that, despite his early fame, remains shrouded in secrecy.

The second installment of MASS MoCA's Larger Than Life documentary series, Still Bill will screen at MASS MoCA on Thursday, February 12, at 7:30 PM in Club B-10 in an event sponsored by Amtrak. Filmmakers Damani Baker and Alex Vlack will be present for a Q&A after the screening. Tickets are $8, and visitors who plan to attend the Kori Withers Alt Cabaret performance on Saturday, February 14, can purchase a ticket to the film for just $5.

Recently completed, Still Bill follows Withers from a visit to his hometown in West Virginia to the Bill Withers tribute concert at the 2008 Celebrate Brooklyn. The film examines the life of an influential and underappreciated pioneer of soul, a complex man who left his fame behind to raise a family. The filmmakers describe Withers's life as "rich with meaning beyond ethereal fame."

Born in a coal-mining town, Withers started putting his feelings into song during his nine-year stint in the Navy. After moving to Los Angeles to work at an airplane factory, he began performing at juke joints at night and circulating his demo tape to studios. Signed to Sussex Records, the singer's first album, Just As I Am, was released in 1971 with the tracks Harlem and Ain't No Sunshine released as singles. Withers won his first Grammy Award for Ain't No Sunshine in 1972 and also released his signature album, Still Bill, which featured the hits Lean on Me and Use Me. After singing his way into the hearts of millions, Withers left the music industry in the late 1970s to raise a family and maintain his personal relationships, a career move that seemed strange to the public but for Withers was the only viable option.

Withers' music maintains its popularity today. His music and unique voice have been used in countless television and radio commercials, motion pictures, and on television programs. His songs have been sampled and covered by many hip hop and rap artists, most notably by BlackStreet in the composition No Diggity and Will Smith's version of Just The Two Of Us which was also featured in the motion picture Austin Powers - The Spy that Shagged Me.

The screening of Still Bill is the second installment of MASS MoCA's winter documentary film series held in intimate Club B-10, which features finely detailed biographical sketches of artists and other public figures whose legendary work has fired the imagination. Each film is followed by a Q&A with filmmakers offering more in-depth information about the filmmaking process and the featured personalities. Upcoming screenings include: Man on Wire on February 19 about Philippe Petit and what came to be known as "the artistic crime of the century," and Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story on March 5, a hugely entertaining documentary about a ruthless, if undeniably clever, American political force.

Tickets for Still Bill are $8/ $5 students with ID. MASS MoCA members receive a 10% discount. Tickets are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office located off Marshall Street in North Adams, open from 11 AM until 5 PM, closed Tuesdays. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413-662-2111 during Box Office hours or purchased on line at www.massmoca.org.