The legacy of legendary singer-songwriter Bill Withers will be celebrated at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s Centennial Festival on June 13 when his wife, Marcia Withers, and daughter, Kori Withers, appear to discuss their children’s book, Grandma’s Hands.
The mother-daughter team will participate in the festival’s Kids Clubhouse programming, introducing young readers to a book inspired by one of Bill Withers’ most beloved songs. Originally released in 1971 on his debut album Just As I Am, “Grandma’s Hands” became a classic tribute to the love, guidance, and strength of family matriarchs and remains one of the singer’s most enduring works.
Marcia and Kori Withers transformed the song’s message into a children’s book that celebrates family bonds, generational wisdom, and the important role grandparents play in shaping young lives. Their appearance comes as part of the Schomburg Center’s yearlong celebration marking its 100th anniversary.
The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. along West 135th Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Harlem. The event combines elements of the Schomburg Literary Festival and Black Comic Book Festival, featuring author talks, workshops, book signings, live performances, and family-friendly activities.
For Kori Withers, the event offers an opportunity to share her father’s legacy with a new generation of readers. Bill Withers, who died in 2020 at age 81, is widely regarded as one of the most influential songwriters of his era. His catalog includes timeless hits such as “Lean on Me,” “Lovely Day,” “Use Me,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “Grandma’s Hands.”
At the Kids Clubhouse, Marcia and Kori Withers will join other children’s authors in a space dedicated to storytelling, crafts, music, and literacy. The programming is being presented in partnership with poet and author Mahogany L. Browne’s Woke Baby Festival.