By Maria Esteves - March 2, 2010
The Opening Night New York Premiere documentary of STILL BILL, co-directed by Damani Baker and Alex Vlack, commenced January 27 - 28, 2010, at the IFC Center, New York. Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, and musician Bill Withers appeared for a special Q&A session following the two sold out opening screenings with filmmakers Damani Baker and Alex Vlack. STILL BILL played at the IFC Center for a week. Arrivals at the opening night included artists, producers, industry professionals, and celebrity guests.
STILL BILL is a profound heartfelt documentary revealing the intimate life of singer, songwriter, and musician Bill Withers (William Harrison Withers, Jr.). Born July 4, 1938, in West Virginia, a childhood stutter, who joined the U.S. Navy, then went to work on building 747 aircraft toilets. In the late 1960s, Withers began to play the guitar, write, and sing soulful songs that became award winning classic masterpieces. The film captures his concern as an advocate of adolescent stuttering; concert footage; interviews with family, friends, and musicians (Sting).
Withers timeless songs showcased in this documentary include "Ain't No Sunshine," "Grandma's Hands," "Just The Two Of Us," "Lean On Me," "Lovely Day," "Mi Amigo Cubano (Bill Withers & Raul Midon)," "Telephone Call Away (Bill Withers & Kori Withers)," "Use Me," "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)" and many others.
STILL BILL, B-Side Entertainment, co-directed by Damani Baker and Alex Vlack | Documentary Feature | USA | 2009 | English | 78 MIN., winner of Best Documentary Feature Film Award and Audience Award, 2009 Urbanworld Film Festival, now on DVD. For more information, visit http://stillbillthemovie.com/.
Cast: Bill Withers, Kori Withers, Marcia Withers, Todd Withers, Clarence Avant, Benorce Blackmon, James Gadson, Terrell Harrison, Angelique Kidjo, Jim James, Mervin Johnson, Ralph MacDonald, Raul Midon, Tavis Smiley, Sting, C.V. Thompson and Cornel West.
02.03.2010 | Aviva Press's blog
Cat. : 2009 Urbanworld Film Festival advocate adolescent stuttering Ain't No Sunshine Ain't No Sunshine Alex Vlack Angélique Kidjo Arts Audience Award Bill Withers Bill Withers Bill Withers documentary film C.V. Thompson CDATA Clarence Avant Contact Details Cornel West Damani Baker Entertainment Entertainment Grammy Award Grammy Award winning Grandma's Hands http://stillbillthemovie.com Human Interest Human Interest IFC Center James Gadson James Gadson Jim James Just The Two Of Us Kori Withers Lean On Me Lovely Day Marcia Withers Music musician New York New York Person Career Ralph MacDonald Raul Midón Raul Midon Rhythm and blues singer singer , songwriter, and musician songwriter STILL BILL Still Bill Tavis Smiley Todd Withers United States Navy Use Me West Virginia West Virginia William Harrison Withers , Jr. William Harrison Withers Jr. Withers FILM