Barry Eugene Carter (September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003), better known by his stage name Barry White, was an American singer and songwriter. A two-time
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
winner known for his
bass
Bass or Basses may refer to:
Fish
* Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species
Music
* Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range:
** Bass (instrument), including:
** Acoustic bass gui ...
voice and romantic image, his greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with
The Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest att ...
,
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the mi ...
, and
disco
Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric p ...
songs such as his two biggest hits: "
Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
"Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" is a song written, recorded, and produced by American musician Barry White. Released in June 1974 as the first single from his third album, '' Can't Get Enough'' (1974), the song topped the US ''Billboard'' ...
" and "
You're the First, the Last, My Everything".
White recorded 20 studio albums during the course of his career, but multiple versions and compilations were released worldwide that were certified
gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile ...
, 41 of which also attained platinum status. White had 20 gold and 10 platinum singles, with worldwide record sales in excess of 100 million records, and is one of the
best-selling music artists of all time. His influences included
James Cleveland
James Edward Cleveland (December 5, 1931 – February 9, 1991) was an American gospel singer, musician, and composer. Known as the King of Gospel, Cleveland was a driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound by incorporating tra ...
,
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
,
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in '' Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Wit ...
,
The Supremes
The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successf ...
, the
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet from Detroit who helped to define the city's Motown sound of the 1960s. The group's repertoire has included soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes.
Founded as the ...
and
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., who also spelled his surname as Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo ar ...
.
Early life
White was born Barry Eugene Carter on September 12, 1944, in
Galveston, Texas
Galveston ( ) is a coastal resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. The community of , with a population of 47,743 in 2010, is the county seat of surrounding G ...
, United States.
His father was Melvin A. White, and his mother was Sadie Marie Carter. His parents never married, so his mother gave him her last name, but he later took on the surname of his father. He grew up in the
Watts neighborhood of
South Central Los Angeles, California. He was the older of two children; his brother Darryl was 13 months younger. White grew up listening to his mother's classical music collection and first took to the piano, emulating what he heard on the records.
White has often been credited with playing piano, at age 11, on
Jesse Belvin's 1956 hit single, "
Goodnight My Love".
[Hogan, Ed]
"Barry White."
''www.allmusic.com.'' Retrieved January 16, 2016. However, in a 1995 interview with the ''
Boston Herald
The ''Boston Herald'' is an American daily newspaper whose primary market is Boston, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. It was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It has been awarded eight Puli ...
'', White denied writing or arranging the song. He believed the story was an exaggeration by journalists. While White and Belvin lived in the same neighborhood, Belvin was 12 years older than White.
White attended Jacob A. Riis High School, an all boys academy in southeast Los Angeles.
White's voice deepened suddenly when he was 14.
[ He recalled: "]s a child
S, or s, is the nineteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ess'' (pronounced ), plural ''esses''.
History ...
I had a normal squeaky kid voice. Then as a teenager, that completely changed. My mother cried because she knew her baby boy had become a man." In an 2000 interview with Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien (born April 18, 1963) is an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for having hosted late-night talk shows for almost 28 years, beginning with '' Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' ( ...
he further recalled: "I woke up one morning when I was 14. I spoke to my mother and I scared both of us."
White was jailed for four months at the age of 16 for stealing $30,000 worth of Cadillac
The Cadillac Motor Car Division () is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM) that designs and builds luxury vehicles. Its major markets are the United States, Canada, and China. Cadillac models are distributed ...
tires (equivalent to about $300,000 in 2022). While in jail, he listened to Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the " King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. His ener ...
singing " It's Now or Never" on the radio, an experience he later credited with changing the course of his life. White had another moment of inspiration on his 18th birthday, which also was the first day back for his graduating year of high school. He skipped class to walk to Capitol Records headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, and stood across the street from the office staring for hours. Seeing the liveliness of the area it inspired him to work in Hollywood and the entertainment industry after, despite not knowing how to read or write music.
Music career
1960s
After his release from jail, White left gang life and began a musical career at the beginning of the 1960s in singing groups. He first released "Too Far to Turn Around" in 1960 as part of The Upfronts before working for various small independent labels in Los Angeles. He also recorded several singles under his own name in the early 1960s, backed by vocal groups the Atlantics (for the Rampart and Faro labels) and the Majestics (for the Linda and Jordan labels).[ White had no involvement with Bob & Earl's 1963 hit single "]Harlem Shuffle
"Harlem Shuffle" is an R&B song written and originally recorded by the duo Bob & Earl in 1963.
In 1986, it was covered by the British rock band The Rolling Stones on their album '' Dirty Work''.
Bob & Earl
The original single, arranged by Ge ...
", a song he has sometimes been credited with producing;[White, Barry]
"Telephone interview with Larry Katz"
June 1 or 2, 1995. ''The Katz Tapes.'' Retrieved June 4, 2015.[Nelson, Valerie J]
"'Harlem Shuffle' co-writer was part of the soul duo Bob & Earl"
''Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the ...
'', July 25, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2016. in his 1999 autobiography, White confirmed the song had been produced by Gene Page, who had worked with him on many of White's 1970s successes.
In 1965, White produced "Feel Aw Right" by the Bel Cantos, released on the Downey Downey may refer to:
People
* Downey (surname)
*Robert Downey Jr.
Places
*Downey, California, US
* Downey, Idaho, US
* Downey, Iowa, US
Businesses
* W. & D. Downey, photographic studio
* Downey Studios, created out of a former Boeing plant
Scho ...
label. He recorded his debut single, "Man Ain't Nothin'" / "I Don't Need It, released under the name Lee Barry on Downey in 1966. He also co-wrote "Together Forever," released by Pat Powdrill
Pat Powdrill (January 21, 1948 – April 11, 1996) was an American soul singer and songwriter. Powdrill was best known for being a member of the Ikettes in the 1960s. She began her career as a solo artist recording for Reprise Records and Downey ...
& the Powerdrills in 1967.
In the mid-'60s, Bob Keane of Del-Fi Records hired him as an A&R man for his new Bronco Records imprint, and White started working with the label's artists, including Viola Wills and The Bobby Fuller Four
The Bobby Fuller Four (sometimes stylized as Bobby Fuller 4) was a popular mid-1960s American rock & roll band started by Bobby Fuller. First formed in 1962 in Fuller's hometown of El Paso, Texas, the group went on to produce some of its most ...
, as a songwriter, session musician, and arranger. He discovered singer Felice Taylor and arranged her song "I Feel Love Comin' On
"I Feel Love Comin' On" was a 1967 song that became an international success for the African-American singer Felice Taylor. The song was written and produced by Paul Politi and Barry White, and recorded with musical accompaniment by the Bob Keane ...
," co-written with his friend Paul Politi
Paul Leo Politi (born July 31, 1943) is an American songwriter, famous for his collaboration of over 40 songs with singer and songwriter Barry White.
Politi and White collaborated in writing songs including the singer Felice Taylor during the mid ...
. It became a big hit in the UK. Other charting hits written by White and Politi for her included " It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring)" and " Under the Influence of Love". Bronco issued one of White's first singles, 1967's "All in the Run of a Day," produced by Keane and White. White also wrote "Doin' the Banana Split" for TV bubblegum act The Banana Splits
''The Banana Splits'' is an American television variety show produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and featuring the Banana Splits, a fictional rock band composed of four costumed animal characters in red marching band hats with yellow plumes. ...
in 1968.
In 1969, White was signed by Forward Records of Los Angeles, a division of Transcontinental Entertainment Corporation, as a producer.
1970s as producer
In 1972, White got his big break producing a girl group he had discovered called Love Unlimited. Formed in imitative style of the Motown
Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
girl group The Supremes
The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successf ...
, the group members had gradually honed their talents with White for two years previously until they signed contracts with Uni Records. His friend Paul Politi
Paul Leo Politi (born July 31, 1943) is an American songwriter, famous for his collaboration of over 40 songs with singer and songwriter Barry White.
Politi and White collaborated in writing songs including the singer Felice Taylor during the mid ...
hooked him up with music industry businessman Larry Nunes, who helped to finance their album. After it was recorded, Nunes took the recording to Russ Regan
Russ Regan (born Harold Rustigian; October 15, 1928 in Sanger, California – May 27, 2018 in Palm Springs, California) was an American record executive who was President of both UNI Records and 20th Century Records and was vice-president of A& ...
, who was the head of the Uni label owned by MCA
MCA may refer to:
Astronomy
* Mars-crossing asteroid, an asteroid whose orbit crosses that of Mars
Aviation
* Minimum crossing altitude, a minimum obstacle crossing altitude for fixes on published airways
* Medium Combat Aircraft, a 5th gen ...
. The album, 1972's '' From A Girl's Point of View We Give to You... Love Unlimited'', became the first of White's string of long-titled albums and singles.
White produced, wrote and arranged their classic soul ballad " Walkin' in the Rain with the One I Love", which climbed to No. 14 in the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Pop chart and No. 6 on the ''Billboard'' R&B chart in late 1972. It became White's first million selling single as a writer and producer. This single also reached No. 12 in the UK chart. White's voice can clearly be heard in this piece as he plays the lover who answers the phone call of the female lead.
Soon after, Regan left Uni for 20th Century Records
20th Century Fox Records (also known as 20th Fox Records and 20th Century Records, or simply 20th Century Fox Film Scores and Fox Records) was a wholly owned subsidiary of film studio 20th Century Fox. The history of the label covers three dis ...
. Without Regan, White's relationship with Uni soured. With his relationship with Uni over and Love Unlimited contract-bound with the label, White was able to switch both his production deal and the group to 20th Century Records. They recorded several other hits throughout the 1970s, "I Belong to You", which spent over five months on the ''Billboard'' R&B chart in 1974 including a week at No. 1 and "Under the Influence of Love Unlimited", which hit No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' Pop album charts. White married the lead singer of the group, Glodean James, on July 4, 1974.
The Love Unlimited Orchestra
In 1973, White created The Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40-piece orchestral group to be used originally as a backing band for the girl-group Love Unlimited. However, White had other plans, and in 1973 he released a single with " Love's Theme" (written by him and played by the orchestra), which reached No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Pop charts. Later, in 1974, he made the first album of the Love Unlimited Orchestra, ''Rhapsody in White
''Rhapsody in White'' is the first studio album by the American soul group, The Love Unlimited Orchestra, released in 1974. It was a huge success for the group, who backed and was led by Barry White for many singles such as " I'm Gonna Love You ...
'', containing "Love's Theme". White would continue to make albums with the orchestra, achieving some successes such as: "Rhapsody in White"; "Satin Soul"; "Forever in Love"; "Midnight Groove"; " My Sweet Summer Suite", Remake of "Theme From King Kong". The orchestra ceased to make albums in 1983, but continued to support White as a backing band.
1970s solo career
White wanted to work with another act, but decided to work with a solo male artist. While working on a few demos for a male singer, he made three song demos of himself singing and playing, but Nunes heard them and insisted that he re-record and release them himself as a solo recording artist. After arguing for days about it, White was finally persuaded to release the songs himself, although he was initially reluctant to step out behind the microphone.
He then wrote several other songs and recorded them for what eventually became an entire album of music. He was going to use the name "White Heat," but decided on using his given name instead. White was still hesitating up to the time the label copy was made. It eventually became White's first solo album, 1973's ''I've Got So Much to Give
"I've Got So Much to Give" is an R&B contemporary romantic ballad composed and recorded by popular soul artist Barry White and released in 1973. It was originally conceived by White as a single but then featured on the album of the same name ( ...
''. It included the title track and his first solo chart hit, "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby
I Am or I'm may refer to:
Language and literature
* "I Am that I Am", a common English translation of the response God used in the Hebrew Bible when Moses asked for His name
** I am (biblical term), a Christian term used in the Bible
* "I Am" (po ...
", which also rose to No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' R&B charts as well as No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' Pop charts in 1973 and stayed in the top 40 for many weeks.
Other chart hits by White included " Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (No. 2 R&B, No. 7 Pop in 1973), "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
"Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" is a song written, recorded, and produced by American musician Barry White. Released in June 1974 as the first single from his third album, '' Can't Get Enough'' (1974), the song topped the US ''Billboard'' ...
" (No. 1 Pop and R&B in 1974), " You're the First, the Last, My Everything" (No. 1 R&B, No. 2 Pop in 1974), "What Am I Gonna Do with You
"What Am I Gonna Do with You" is a popular song recorded by Barry White. Written and produced by White, the song was his fifth top ten hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 singles chart in the US, reaching number eight and spending a week at number ...
" (No. 1 R&B, No. 8 Pop in 1975), "Let the Music Play" (No. 4 R&B in 1976), "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me
"It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me" is a hit song by American singer Barry White. The song was written by Ekundayo Paris and Nelson Pigford, and arranged by Barry White.
Chart performance
Released from his album '' Barry White Sings for ...
" (No. 1 R&B, No. 4 Pop in 1977) and "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness" (No. 2 R&B in 1978) and others. White also had a strong following in the UK, where he scored five Top 10 hits and a No. 1 for "You're the First, the Last, My Everything". Due to his large frame, facial hair, and deep voice, he was given the nickname "The Walrus of Love" in the UK.
After six years, White left 20th Century in 1979 to launch his own label, Unlimited Gold, with CBS/Columbia Records.
1980s
Although his success on the pop charts slowed down as the disco era came to an end, he maintained a loyal following throughout his career. Despite several albums over the next three years, he failed to repeat his earlier successes, with no singles managing to reach the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, except for 1982's "Change," climbing into the Billboard R&B Top 20 (No. 12). His label venture was exacting a heavy financial cost on White, so he concentrated on mostly touring and finally folded his label in 1983.
After four years he signed with A&M Records
A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...
, and with the release of 1987's '' The Right Night & Barry White'', the single entitled "Sho' You Right" made it to the ''Billboard'' R&B charts, peaking at No. 17.
In 1989 he released '' The Man Is Back!'' and with it had three top 40 singles on the ''Billboard'' R&B charts: "Super Lover", which made it to No. 34, "I Wanna Do It Good to Ya", which made it to No. 26, and "When Will I See You Again", which made it to No. 32.
1990s
A 1970s nostalgia fad allowed White to enjoy a renewed wave of popularity in the 1990s. After participating in the song " The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)" from Quincy Jones
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...
's 1989 album '' Back on the Block'', White mounted an effective comeback with several albums, each more successful than the one before. He returned to the top of the charts in 1991 with the album '' Put Me in Your Mix'', which reached No. 8 on the ''Billboard'' R&B Albums chart and the song by the same name reached No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' R&B singles chart.
In 1994, White released ''The Icon Is Love
''The Icon Is Love'' is the nineteenth studio album by American R&B singer Barry White, which was released on October 4, 1994 on A&M Records. The album represented a major comeback for White both critically and commercially, and went on to bec ...
'', which went to No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' R&B album charts, and the single "Practice What You Preach
''Practice What You Preach'' is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Testament, released in August 1989 via Atlantic/Megaforce. Propelled by the singles "Greenhouse Effect", "The Ballad" and the title track " Practice What You P ...
" gave him his first No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' R&B singles chart in almost 20 years. The album was nominated for a Grammy in the Best R&B Album category, but lost to TLC's ''CrazySexyCool
''CrazySexyCool'' is the second studio album by American girl group TLC, released on November 15, 1994, by LaFace and Arista Records. Following the group's record deal, they released their debut album '' Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip'' in 1992 ...
''.
In 1996, White recorded the duet
A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a sol ...
" In Your Wildest Dreams" with Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an American-born Swiss retired singer and actress. Widely referred to as the " Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", she rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue before ...
. 1996 also saw the release of ''Space Jam
''Space Jam'' is a 1996 American live-action/animated sports comedy film directed by Joe Pytka, with animation sequences directed by Bruce W. Smith and Tony Cervone, and written by Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick, Timothy Harris, and Herschel ...
'' and its soundtrack, on which White had a duet with Chris Rock
Christopher Julius Rock (born February 7, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and filmmaker. Known for his work in comic film, television and stage, he has received multiple accolades, including three Grammy Awards for best come ...
, called "Basketball Jones", a remake of Cheech & Chong's "Basketball Jones" from 1973.
White's final album, 1999's ''Staying Power
"Staying Power" is the first track on Queen's 1982 album ''Hot Space''. It was written by lead singer Freddie Mercury and is notable as being the only Queen song to have a horn section, which was arranged by Arif Mardin. The song is driven by ...
'', resulted in his last hit song "Staying Power
"Staying Power" is the first track on Queen's 1982 album ''Hot Space''. It was written by lead singer Freddie Mercury and is notable as being the only Queen song to have a horn section, which was arranged by Arif Mardin. The song is driven by ...
," which placed No. 45 on the ''Billboard'' R&B charts. The single won him two Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...
in the categories Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance was awarded between 1968 and 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:
*In 1968 it was awarded as Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male
*From 1969 to 1994 it was awarded as Best R&B ...
and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.
His autobiography, ''Love Unlimited'', written with Mark Eliot, was published in 1999 by Broadway Books.
Acting career
Over the course of his career, White sometimes did voice-over work for television and movies. He voiced the character Brother Bear in the film '' Coonskin'' (1975), and also played the character Sampson in the movie's live-action segments. He appeared as himself in two episodes of ''The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, ...
''. In the episode "Whacking Day
"Whacking Day" is the twentieth episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 29, 1993. The episode revolves around the fictional h ...
", Bart and Lisa used his deep bass singing voice, played through loudspeakers placed on the ground, to lull and attract snakes, saving them from extermination. White was a fan of the show, and had reportedly contacted the staff about wanting to make a guest appearance. He made a second cameo in the episode " Krusty Gets Kancelled".
White played the role of a bus driver for a Prodigy
Prodigy, Prodigies or The Prodigy may refer to:
* Child prodigy, a child who produces meaningful output to the level of an adult expert performer
** Chess prodigy, a child who can beat experienced adult players at chess
Arts, entertainment, and ...
commercial in 1995, and he also portrayed the voice of a rabbit in a Good Seasons salad-dressing-mix commercial, singing a song called "You Can't Bottle Love". In addition, he did some work for car commercials, including for Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile or formally the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors was a brand of American automobiles, produced for most of its existence by General Motors. Originally established as "Olds Motor Vehicle Company" by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, it pro ...
, and later on, Jeep
Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Motors ...
. White also provided voice-over for Arby's Restaurant commercials on television and radio to promote its ''Market Fresh'' menu. White's voice can also be heard in Apple's first iBook commercial. White made three guest appearances on the comedy-drama television series '' Ally McBeal'', as his music was often featured on the show in dream sequences.
Personal life
Marriages
White was first married to his childhood sweetheart, identified as just Mary in his autobiography, by the time he was 19. They separated in 1969 and later divorced.
In 1974, White married singer Glodean James. The couple collaborated on the 1981 album ''Barry & Glodean''. They reportedly separated in 1988, but they were still legally married until White's death in 2003, although they lived separate lives. Although estranged from White for over a decade, as his widow she was made sole executor of his estate.
Children
White had at least nine children.
By the age of 16, White had fathered two children with his first wife Mary. They had four children together. In 2017, his son Darryl White from his first marriage sued his estate claiming he was cut off financially.
White had four children with his second wife Glodean James. Their daughter Shaherah was his personal assistant. Barry Jr. played in the Love Unlimited Orchestra and was also his tour manager. White's son MacKevin worked in his publishing administration.
White had a daughter, Denise Donnell born in 1962 to Gurtha Allen. She did not discover who her biological father was until 1988. She was accepted by White and with his help she changed her name to Denise White. In 2016, she sued White's estate after she stopped receiving money.
After White's death in 2003, his girlfriend Katherine Denton claimed her infant daughter Barriana was his biological child. Denton also claimed that she was owed money and personal items that White had promised to give her. Paternity tests revealed that he was not the father of her child and Denton subsequently lost her court case.
Health problems and death
White was overweight for most of his adult life and suffered from related health problems. He was also known to be a heavy smoker, reportedly smoking approximately 150 cigarettes a day; roughly between 7 and 8 packs.
While on tour in the summer of 1995, White nearly collapsed after a concert. He took a break from performing that fall, and on October 30 of that year, he was hospitalized after having a stroke due to high blood pressure
Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. Long-term high bl ...
. He was in a coma for four days but was discharged a week after coming out of it.
While touring with Earth, Wind & Fire in August 1999, White was forced to cancel a month's worth of tour dates owing to exhaustion, high blood pressure and a hectic schedule. Family, friends and associates also reported that as the 2000s began, White was in such poor health that he could hardly stand up; his last performances suffered as a result.
In September 2002, White was hospitalized with kidney failure attributed to chronic high blood pressure
Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. Long-term high bl ...
; he was also believed to have been diabetic
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...
. While undergoing dialysis and awaiting a kidney transplant
Kidney transplant or renal transplant is the organ transplant of a kidney into a patient with end-stage kidney disease (ESRD). Kidney transplant is typically classified as deceased-donor (formerly known as cadaveric) or living-donor transplant ...
in May 2003, White suffered a severe stroke, which forced him to retire from public life. He also suffered multiple seizures in his last few weeks.
White's unstable health prevented him from receiving a new kidney and on 4th of July
Fourth or the fourth may refer to:
* the ordinal form of the number 4
* ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971
* Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision
* Fourth (music), a musical interval
* ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...
, 2003, he died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over ...
in Los Angeles after suffering cardiac arrest; he was 58 years old. His remains were cremated, and the ashes were scattered in the ocean off the California coast.
Legacy
On September 20, 2004, White was posthumously
Posthumous may refer to:
* Posthumous award - an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death
* Posthumous publication
Posthumous publication refers to material that is published after the author's death. This can be because the auth ...
inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in New York. On September 12, 2013, which would have been White's 69th birthday, he was posthumously awarded the 2,506th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...
at 6914 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It begins in the east at Sunset Boulevard in the Los Feliz district and proceeds to the west as a major thoroughfare through Little Armenia and Thai Town, Hollywoo ...
in the category of recording. The show '' Counting Cars'' paid tribute to White by restoring the last car he owned for his widow, Glodean.
In an obituary referring to White by his nickname, "The Walrus of Love," the BBC recalled "the rich timbres of one of the most distinctive soul voices of his generation, about which it was once said: 'If chocolate fudge cake could sing, it would sound like Barry White.'" "Obituary: Barry White
, ''BBC'', July 4, 2003. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
Awards and nominations
White was nominated for 11 Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
s; winning two for ''Staying Power'' at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards
The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 23, 2000, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1999. Nominations were announced on January 4, 2000. Santana was the main ...
in 2000.
Discography
;Studio albums
* ''I've Got So Much to Give
"I've Got So Much to Give" is an R&B contemporary romantic ballad composed and recorded by popular soul artist Barry White and released in 1973. It was originally conceived by White as a single but then featured on the album of the same name ( ...
'' (1973)
* '' Stone Gon''' (1973)
* '' Can't Get Enough'' (1974)
* ''Just Another Way to Say I Love You
''Just Another Way to Say I Love You'' is the self-produced fourth album by American R&B singer Barry White, released in 1975 on the 20th Century label.
History
The album topped the R&B albums chart, White's fourth in a row to do so, and peake ...
'' (1975)
* '' Let the Music Play'' (1976)
* '' Is This Whatcha Wont?'' (1976)
* ''Barry White Sings for Someone You Love
''Barry White Sings for Someone You Love'' is the self-produced seventh album by soul singer Barry White, released in 1977 on the 20th Century label.
Commercial performance
The album topped the R&B albums chart, White's first to do so since 197 ...
'' (1977)
* '' The Man'' (1978)
* '' I Love to Sing the Songs I Sing'' (1979)
* '' The Message Is Love'' (1979)
* ''Sheet Music
Sheet music is a handwritten or printed form of musical notation that uses musical symbols to indicate the pitches, rhythms, or chords of a song or instrumental musical piece. Like its analogs – printed books or pamphlets in English, ...
'' (1980)
* '' Barry & Glodean (With Glodean White
Glodean Beverly White (born Glodean Beverly James, October 16, 1946) is an American R&B singer, who was married to Barry White. In the 1980s, Glodean White made numerous appearances on ''Soul Train'' and the ''Soul Train Music Awards''. She was ...
)'' (1981)
* '' Beware!'' (1981)
* '' Change'' (1982)
* '' Dedicated'' (1983)
* '' The Right Night & Barry White'' (1987)
* '' The Man Is Back!'' (1989)
* '' Put Me in Your Mix'' (1991)
* ''The Icon Is Love
''The Icon Is Love'' is the nineteenth studio album by American R&B singer Barry White, which was released on October 4, 1994 on A&M Records. The album represented a major comeback for White both critically and commercially, and went on to bec ...
'' (1994)
* ''Staying Power
"Staying Power" is the first track on Queen's 1982 album ''Hot Space''. It was written by lead singer Freddie Mercury and is notable as being the only Queen song to have a horn section, which was arranged by Arif Mardin. The song is driven by ...
'' (1999)
References
External links
*
*
Barry White On A&M Records
{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Barry
1944 births
2003 deaths
20th-century African-American male singers
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