How refreshing it was to read your article, “Celebrating Bill Withers’ music, message through song and service,” about the legendary singer-songwriter’s daughter, Kori Withers, performing her father’s music at the Cultural Arts Center in Glen Allen.

It is fitting that this performance will benefit FreeHorse Arts, a local equine-based program for people with diverse disabilities, because the message in Withers’ music was always about lending a hand to others. His signature song, “Lean On Me,” was a No. 1 hit 53 years ago and the message still resonates. Bill Withers was known for actively supporting diverse social and philanthropic causes during his lifetime. He didn’t just sing about it; he walked the walk.

The article mentioned that Withers struggled with stuttering in his early life. He received speech therapy while serving in the U.S. Air Force. He never forgot his stuttering and was active in many charities that helped children who stutter. The Stuttering Foundation (stutteringhelp.org) has a biographical article about Withers on its website. To say that Bill Withers is a hero to the stuttering community is an understatement.

Recently, a statue of the legendary singer was unveiled in his hometown. No one is more deserving of a statue in his honor than the singer-composer who dominated the airwaves in the 1970s and touched many lives with his songs and charitable endeavors.

ED DEPHILLIPS

New Jersey