Full Answer
Was lean on Me based on a true story?
Lean on Me is loosely based on the story of Joe Louis Clark, a real life inner city high school principal in Paterson, New Jersey, whose school is at risk of being taken over by the New Jersey state government unless students improve their test scores on the New Jersey Minimum Basic Skills Test.
What year was lean on Me made and produced?
Lean on Me is a 1989 American biographical drama film written by Michael Schiffer, directed by John G. Avildsen and starring Morgan Freeman.It is based on the story of Joe Louis Clark, a real life inner city high school principal in Paterson, New Jersey, whose school is in danger of being placed into receivership of the New Jersey state government unless students improve their test scores on ...
Who sang the original song Lean On Me?
Singer/songwriter Bill Withers wrote "Lean on Me" based on his experiences growing up in a West Virginia coal mining town. During the lean times, neighbors would help each other out. The song was written before Withers was a recording star, having to come up with "material" for a new album.
Who are the characters in lean on Me?
Lean on Me: Directed by John G. Avildsen. With Morgan Freeman, Beverly Todd, Robert Guillaume, Alan North. The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school he is determined to improve by any and all means. Menu
When did the song Lean On Me came out?
April 21, 1972"Lean on Me" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bill Withers. It was released in April 1972 as the first single from his second album, Still Bill....Lean on Me (song)"Lean on Me"B-side"Better Off Dead"ReleasedApril 21, 1972Recorded1972GenreSoul13 more rows
Who wrote the original song Lean On Me?
Bill WithersLean on Me / ComposerWilliam Harrison Withers Jr. was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He had several hits over a career spanning 18 years, including "Ain't No Sunshine", "Grandma's Hands", "Use Me", "Lean on Me", "Lovely Day" and "Just the Two of Us". Withers won three Grammy Awards and was nominated for six more. Wikipedia
Where did the song Lean On Me Come From?
“Lean on Me”, as originally rendered by Bill Withers, came out in 1971, a time when the Civil Rights Movement was still very much hot. As such, some have interpreted it as being related to the said struggle.
When did Kirk Franklin Release Lean On Me?
1998Lean on Me / ReleasedReleased in 1998, the song greatly helped ascend Kirk Franklin's album The Nu Nation Project. The Nu Nation Project went on to top the Billboard Contemporary Christian Albums chart for 23 weeks and the Billboard Gospel Albums chart for 49 weeks, and brought Franklin his third Grammy.
What was Bill Withers net worth at death?
Bill Withers Net Worth: Bill Withers was an American singer and songwriter who had a net worth of $40 million at the time of his death in 2020. Bill Withers died on March 30, 2020 at the age of 81 from heart complications. During his career he wrote and performed a number of massive hit songs.
What is the meaning of Lean On Me?
If you lean on someone or lean upon them, you depend on them for support and encouragement. She leaned on him to help her to solve her problems. [ VERB PARTICLE noun]
Who sang Lean on Me in the 90s?
Singer and songwriter Bill Withers has died. He's best known for songs including "Lean on Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine." Withers died Monday at the age of 81. AILSA CHANG, HOST: Bill Withers, the sweet-voiced baritone behind such classic songs as "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean On Me," has died.
What year was Club Nouveau Lean on Me?
1986Lean on Me / Released
What was Kirk Franklin's first hit song?
The first single, "Looking for You", was a hit, as was the follow-up "Imagine Me", which made it onto the R&B charts. At the 2007 Grammy Awards, Franklin won two Grammys for Hero.
Where was Lean On Me filmed?
Franklin Lakes, New JerseyParts of the film, including the elementary school scenes, were filmed in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey....Lean on Me (film)Lean on MeTheatrical release posterDirected byJohn G. AvildsenWritten byMichael SchifferProduced byNorman Twain11 more rows
Who all sang Lean On Me Kirk Franklin?
Kirk FranklinLean on Me / Artist
Slab Fork
Slab Fork is a community which, as of the writing of this post, barely has more than 200 residents. However the said ‘hood, where mining is the main occupation, had seen better times and likely as a result higher population numbers. But either way, it’s still a small town in the truest sense of the word.
Is the Addressee really in dire need of support?
To be perfectly honest, the lyrics do not really read as if the addressee is in any type of predicament at the moment. Rather the point being made is that if such does materialize, he should not hesitate to call on the vocalist.
More Facts
Also one can’t forget the Lean on Me movie that came out in 1989 starring Morgan Freeman, whose title was in fact derived directly from this song.
Where is Lean on Me based?
Lean on Me is a classic in the Black community. In 1989, the world was introduced to the troubled Eastside High in Passaic County New Jersey.
Who was the principal of Lean on Me?
On December 29, Principal Joe Clark, the inspiration behind the 1989 film, Lean on Me, passed away at the age of 82 after a long battle with an unspecified illness. Clark, who became infamous for expelling 300 students in one day, retired from Newark, New Jersey’s Eastside High School the same year the movie was released and eventually settled in Gainesville, Florida, before his death. Here’s a look at where the memorable cast members of the movie loosely based on his life are now.
Overview
"Lean on Me" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bill Withers. It was released in April 1972 as the first single from his second album, Still Bill. It was a number one single on both the soul singles and the Billboard Hot 100; the latter chart for three weeks in July 1972. Billboard ranked it as the No. 7 song of 1972. It is ranked number 208 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Numerous other versions have been recorded, and it is …
Background and writing
Bill Withers' childhood in the coal mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia, was the inspiration for "Lean on Me", which he wrote after he had moved to Los Angeles and found himself missing the strong community ethic of his hometown. He had lived in a decrepit house in the poor section of his town.
Withers recalled to SongFacts the original inspiration for the song:
Personnel
• Bill Withers – Piano, Vocals
• Benorce Blackmon – Guitar
• Raymond Jackson – Wurlitzer electric piano, string arrangement
• Melvin Dunlap – Bass
Track listings
7-inch single
1. "Lean on Me" – 3:45
2. "Better Off Dead" – 2:13
In popular culture
• The song is used in the ending scene of the Season 7 episode of The Simpsons titled "Radioactive Man".
• Mary J. Blige performed this song at the HBO We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial (January 18, 2009). The next day, a crowd spontaneously began singing the song in the Purple Tunnel of Doom under the National Mall as they waited to gain entrance to the inauguration ceremonies.
Notable cover versions
• In 1989, remakes of "Lean on Me" by the Winans and Sandra Reaves-Phillips provided the emotional uplift for the film Lean on Me. For the same film, the song was adapted by Big Daddy Kane in "hip hop" form. That same year Kids Incorporated covered "Lean on Me" in the Season 6 episode "The Cover Up".
• In 2020, the song was recorded by an ad hoc supergroup of Canadian musicians credited as ArtistsCAN, both in tribute to Withers' recent death and to raise funds for t…
External links
• "Lean On Me" at the 2015 Induction Ceremony on YouTube