Beckley in Raleigh County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Bill Withers

Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 25, 2021

1. Bill Withers Marker

Inscription. Born July 4, 1938, in Slab Fork, Withers grew up in Beckley. After nine years of service in the US Navy, he began a successful career in the music industry, recording hit songs “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean on Me.” In his lifetime, he won three Grammy awards and in 2015 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bill Withers died on March 30, 2020, in Los Angeles.

Erected 2021 by Raleigh County Historical Society, Mr. & Mrs. D.J. Smith, West Virginia Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1938.

Location. 37° 45.961′ N, 81° 10.444′ W. Marker is in Beckley, West Virginia, in Raleigh County. It is on South Fayette (West Virginia Route 3) near Mool Avenue, on the right when traveling south. The marker stands across the street from Stratton Elementary School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 102 Smoot Ave, Beckley WV 25801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s New River Gorge.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stratton High School (within shouting distance of this marker); Wildwood (approx. 0.4 miles away); Ferguson Rock

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Old Bluestone Road (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Mysterious Ferguson Rock (approx. 0.4 miles away); Alfred Beckley / Wildwood (approx. 0.4 miles away); Civil War Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); "The Most Modern Club": Black Knight (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beckley.

Regarding Bill Withers. He went to high school across the street from this marker, at Stratton High School, now Stratton Elementary.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Bill Withers. Excerpt:

In 2005, Withers was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In April 2015, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Stevie Wonder. He described the honor as “an award of attrition” and said: “What few songs I wrote during my brief career, there ain’t a genre that somebody didn’t record them in. I’m not a virtuoso, but I was able to write songs that people could identify with. I don’t think I've done bad for a guy from Slab Fork, West Virginia.” Later that year, a tribute concert in his honor was held at Carnegie Hall featuring
Photographed by Merle T. Cole, 2021

2. Bill Withers Marker
Aloe Blacc, Ed Sheeran, Dr. John, Michael McDonald, and Anthony Hamilton. The concert recreated Withers’s 1973 concert album, Live at Carnegie Hall, along with some of his other material. Withers was in attendance and spoke briefly onstage.

(Submitted on August 10, 2021.)

2. “Ain’t No Sunshine” — Bill Withers — YouTube video. (Submitted on August 10, 2021.)

Bill Withers, 1976 image. Click for full size.

Columbia Records publicity photo in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, April 1, 1976

3. Bill Withers, 1976

Local musicians perform a Withers tune during marker dedication ceremony, May 15, 2021. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Becky Leach, May 15, 2021

4. Local musicians perform a Withers tune during marker dedication ceremony, May 15, 2021.

Marker being fabricated at Sewah Studios, Marietta, OH image. Click for full size.

2021

5. Marker being fabricated at Sewah Studios, Marietta, OH

Credits. This page was last revised on August 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2021, by Merle T. Cole of Daniels, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 986 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 10, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 2. submitted on July 10, 2021, by Merle T. Cole of Daniels, West Virginia. 3. submitted on August 10, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4, 5. submitted on July 10, 2021, by Merle T. Cole of Daniels, West Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.