Cimafunk releases his version of the song "Lean on me" in times of pandemic

April 19, 2020

A version of the acclaimed song "Lean on me," by renowned American musician Bill Withers (1938-2020), is the new release by outstanding Cuban singer and composer Erick Iglesias Rodríguez ("Cimafunk"), which arrives with a message of unity in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cimafunk, popularly known in the contemporary musical landscape of the "Greatest of the Antilles" for songs like "Me voy," from his album Terapia (2017), informed digital media that the song "Lean on me" was chosen because "it speaks of friendship and that unity that is so needed in this difficult period that we are living through."

The artist, who had already made his versions of other Withers compositions, has highlighted that this also constitutes his personal tribute to that soul great, who passed away on March 30th at 81 years of age, due to a heart condition, in Los Ángeles, California.

The recording of the single, according to the also music producer native of the province of Pinar del Río, was made in his current residence in the Vedado area of the capital and has been available on the Internet since its premiere this Wednesday on social networks.

The emblematic song by the influential American musician, author of other hits such as "Ain't No Sunshine," now arrives with Cimafunk's funk/fusion style, who at 30 years of age has already collaborated with first-rate artists within Cuban music and has important collaboration projects with international figures.

An example of this was the video of his song "Potaje" (2019), which flooded the web with its contagious rhythm, alongside essential exponents of the country's musical history such as Omara Portuondo, Chucho Valdés, Pancho Amat and the Orquesta Aragón.

"Lean on me" was published by Bill Withers in April 1972 as part of his album Still Bill, and became his second gold single by confirming the sale of three million copies. The artist was the winner that year of the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for "Ain't No Sunshine" at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards Gala.