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Bill Withers: "Lean On Me" Trivia Quiz

A salute to Bill Withers! Soul star, humanitarian, and eloquent song-writer.

A multiple-choice quiz by kingmaxwell. Estimated time: 5 mins.

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Author
kingmaxwell

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
344,460

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
212

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Bill Withers' songs have been the audio backdrop for a number of movies and television shows. Which television show did NOT use "Lean On Me"? Hint

The Simpsons

Cold Case

30 Rock

Glee

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Why did Bill Withers decide to start singing? Hint

his mother encouraged him to join the church choir

he was struck by lightning

he joined a college guitar trio

he heard a club owner complain that musicians were making thousands of dollars

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Name the romantic 1981 duet with Grover Washington Jr. that earned Bill Withers a Grammy and a number two Billboard hit. Hint

Lean On Me

Who Can It Be Now?

How Will I Know?

Just the Two of Us

4. Identify this 1971 Bill Withers hit:

"Wonder this time where she's gone
Wonder if she's gone to stay
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away (anytime she goes away)" Hint

Ain't No Sunshine

Lean On Me

This House Just Ain't No Home

Wonder This Time

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Name the second hit from Bill Withers' first album. The song only reached 42 on the Billboard charts, but has been deeply appreciated for its powerful sentimental power. Hint

Father's Stern Glance

High Five Dear Uncle

Your Lover's Feet

Grandma's Hands

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Pick the 2009 documentary which profiled Bill Withers. The film gave insight into his life philosophy, including his decision to leave music to spend time with his family. Hint

Bill Withers: From the Soul

Bill Withers at Rest

Family First! The Bill Withers Tryst!

Still Bill

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Bill Withers lucked into getting one of the greatest backing bands in the world. When he decided to try music (at age 29), he moved to Los Angeles and began collaborating with which former-Memphis bandleader? Hint

Jerry Garcia

Otis Redding

George Clinton

Booker T

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Bill Withers was kicked out of the studio while recording his first album.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which influential Los Angeles area funk band's musicians migrated to back Bill Withers for his first two albums? Hint

Tower of Power

The Vandells

Parliament-Funkadelic

The Watts 103rd Street Band

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What disorder did Bill Withers share with the England's King George VI? Hint

speech impediment

double-jointedness

alopecia

hearing loss

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Bill Withers' songs have been the audio backdrop for a number of movies and television shows. Which television show did NOT use "Lean On Me"?

Answer: Cold Case

"The Simpsons" used "Lean On Me" in 1995, in the episode "Radioactive Man". The show "30 Rock" used the song in the episode "Believe in the Stars" in 2008, and the song was covered in "Glee" in 2009 in the episode "Ballad".

2. Why did Bill Withers decide to start singing?

Answer: he heard a club owner complain that musicians were making thousands of dollars

Bill Withers had previously been in the Navy and worked as an aircraft repairman. He left the Navy in 1970.

In an NPR interview in 2007, he stated: "I was up in Oakland one time in a club ...and Lou Rawls was playing there. Lou came in a little late one night, so he was walking behind the bar and he says, 'I'm paying this guy $2,000 a week and he can't even show up on time'. And I thought I've - you know, $2,000 a week to come in here and sing in this joint? You know, I think I could do that".

3. Name the romantic 1981 duet with Grover Washington Jr. that earned Bill Withers a Grammy and a number two Billboard hit.

Answer: Just the Two of Us

"Lean On Me" was released by Bill Withers in 1972. "How Will I Know?" was a Whitney Houston hit from 1982. "Who Can It Be Now?" was by Men at Work and earned them the 1982 Best New Artist Grammy award.

4. Identify this 1971 Bill Withers hit: "Wonder this time where she's gone Wonder if she's gone to stay Ain't no sunshine when she's gone And this house just ain't no home Anytime she goes away (anytime she goes away)"

Answer: Ain't No Sunshine

"Ain't No Sunshine" was a track from Bill Withers' debut album "Just As I Am". It was released in 1971.

5. Name the second hit from Bill Withers' first album. The song only reached 42 on the Billboard charts, but has been deeply appreciated for its powerful sentimental power.

Answer: Grandma's Hands

"Grandma's Hands" was sampled by Dr. Dre and BLACKstreet in 1996 for "No Diggity". This tune not only went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but it also won a Grammy.

6. Pick the 2009 documentary which profiled Bill Withers. The film gave insight into his life philosophy, including his decision to leave music to spend time with his family.

Answer: Still Bill

The documentary was directed by Damani Baker and Alex Vlack. It featured interviews with Bill Withers himself and former musical collaborators.

Answer: Booker T

Booker T and the MGs were a vital Memphis soul band. Most famously they supported musicians at Stax Records. Bill Withers' backing band was an improvised collective that included Booker T. Jones, James Gadson, and Stephen Stills at times.

8. Bill Withers was kicked out of the studio while recording his first album.

Answer: True

Sussex Records only paid for two three-hour sessions. In the middle of recording his first album, Bill Withers was kicked out of the studio because the bills weren't paid.

Source: "PopMatters Music Interview" (31 January 2006), billwithersmusic.com

9. Which influential Los Angeles area funk band's musicians migrated to back Bill Withers for his first two albums?

Answer: The Watts 103rd Street Band

Drummer James Gadson, bass player Melvin Dunlap, trombone player Al Jackson, and guitarist Benorce Blackmon all left the Watts 103rd Street Band to join Bill Withers in 1971.

10. What disorder did Bill Withers share with the England's King George VI?

Answer: speech impediment

Bill Withers struggled with a stutter in his childhood. He also suffered from asthma.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Source: Author kingmaxwell

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
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