Kevin Burt & Big Medicine - Thank You Brother Bill: A Tribute to Bill Withers (2024)

This 13-track expose covers several Bill Withers songs in a respectable interpretation of the late singer. Of course, Mr. Withers was known for the excellent songs “Ain’t No Sunshine,” & “Lean On Me,” (both included) but there are also other tunes listeners may not be familiar with. Herein lies the education Kevin Burt & Big Medicine provide.

This gathering on Thank You, Brother Bill: A Tribute To Bill Withers (Drops Jan. 5/Gulf Coast Records/51 minutes) is Kevin’s 2nd with Gulf Coast. The songs were recorded in the hotbed of soul music in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (I’m being facetious). While that area isn’t known for its soul-induced flavors that doesn’t mean there isn’t soul in the atmosphere. They do record country songs in California & New York, don’t they? So, what’s the difference? If it works…it works no matter where it’s laid down. I’m sure Muscle Shoals, Alabama wasn’t known for its soul music 100 years ago.

Burt’s been playing for nearly 30 years through the Midwest. His soul-inspired performances are perfectly suited for a tribute to the marvelous Bill Withers. Back when Bill was hitting the charts I often mixed him in with Johnny Nash, Lou Rawls, Angelo Bond, Bobby Hebb (“Sunny”) & believe it or not, Gene McDaniel’s (“Tower of Strength,” “A Hundred Pounds of Clay,” “Chip, Chip,” & “Another Tear Falls”). I chilled out with these perfectly suited vocal soulmates.

So, this set was something that looked promising. It’s not always easy to do a tribute & satisfy all who were Bill Withers fans. They either find it wonderfully refreshing or look for flaws. This isn’t the case. Kevin Burt isn’t so much reminding us of the fine music Bill Withers left behind he’s showing us how contemporary & viable his music can still be as applied today.

What makes it most prevalent is that Burt suffuses the soulful tunes of Withers with a bluesy whim, clean disciplined guitar runs ala B.B. King & harmonica bursts. Laid back enough not to interfere with the tradition of vocal. Burt has the vocal tonality necessary to render the songs in an easy-going manner. What he lacks & it’s no blemish is the Withers’ finesse. That’s not easily learned. Sam Cooke had it but not Wilson Pickett. Harry Connick has it but not Michael Bublé. But there’s enough here by Kevin Burt to truly embrace because you can hear Kevin’s sincerity throughout. “Hope She’ll Be Happier,” is exceptional.

Highlights – “Who Is He (and What Is He To You?),” “Kissing My Love,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Another Day To Run,” “Grandma’s Hands,” “The Same Love That Made Me Laugh” & “Hope She’ll Be Happier.”