Barry White

Barry Eugene White (born Carter; September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003) was an American R&B, soul and disco singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. He was known for his deep bass voice and romantic image. White won two Grammy Awards and became very famous in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra. One of their big hits was "Love's Theme", which reached number one on the music charts.

White recorded 20 studio albums during his career. Many of his songs and albums were very popular, with some earning gold and platinum certifications. He sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Some of his most famous songs are "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" and "You're the First, the Last, My Everything".

He was inspired by many talented musicians, including James Cleveland, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, the Supremes, the Four Tops, and Marvin Gaye.

Early life

Barry Eugene White was born on September 12, 1944, in Galveston, Texas. His parents were Melvin A. White and Sadie Marie Carter. He grew up in the Watts neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles, California with his younger brother Darryl.

White loved music from a young age, especially the classical music his mother played. He started playing the piano after listening to her records. His voice changed dramatically when he was a teenager, turning from a high-pitched child's voice into a deep bass voice. This change surprised both him and his mother.

At 16, White spent four months in jail for stealing tires. While in jail, he heard Elvis Presley singing on the radio, which inspired him to pursue a career in entertainment. Later, on his 18th birthday, he visited Capitol Records headquarters in Hollywood, which further sparked his passion for the music industry.

Music career

Barry White started his music career in the 1960s by singing with groups and recording songs in Los Angeles. He worked with different artists and helped create hits for others. In 1969, he became a producer.

The 1970s were a big time for Barry White. He created a group called Love Unlimited and later formed The Love Unlimited Orchestra. One of their songs, "Love's Theme", became very popular. White also began a successful solo career, with hits like "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" and "You're the First, the Last, My Everything".

In the 1980s and 1990s, White kept making music and remained popular. He released many albums and won two Grammy Awards. His music included styles like R&B, soul, and disco.

Acting career

Barry White sometimes worked as a voice actor for TV and movies. He voiced a character named Brother Bear in a film from 1975 called Coonskin. He also voiced himself in two episodes of The Simpsons during its fourth season, titled Whacking Day and Krusty Gets Kancelled.

He appeared in commercials too. In 1995, he played a bus driver in a Prodigy ad. He also voiced a rabbit in a salad-dressing commercial and sang a song called "You Can't Bottle Love." He did voice-overs for car ads, including ones for Oldsmobile and Jeep. He also spoke for Arby's Restaurant ads and narrated the first commercial for Apple's iBook. Additionally, he made three guest appearances on the TV show Ally McBeal, where his music was often used in dream scenes.

Personal life

Barry White was married twice. His first wife was named Mary, and they married when he was just 19. They separated in 1969 and later divorced. In 1974, he married singer Glodean James. They worked together on music and stayed legally married until his passing in 2003, even though they lived apart for many years.

Barry White had nine children. With his first wife, Mary, he had four children. With Glodean, he also had four children. One daughter, Shaherah, helped him with his work, and another son, Barry Jr., traveled with him on tours. He had another daughter named Denise, born to another woman named Gurtha Allen. She learned he was her father when she was grown up and later changed her name to Denise White.

Health problems and death

Barry White struggled with his weight for most of his adult life and was very large in size. In May 2003, while waiting for a new kidney and receiving treatments, he had a serious health event that made him stop appearing in public. He also had some health issues in the weeks before he passed away.

Because his health was not stable, he could not receive a new kidney. He died from kidney problems at a hospital in Los Angeles on July 4, 2003, when he was 58 years old. After he passed away, his remains were placed in the ocean near the coast of California.

Legacy

Barry White was honored after he passed away. In 2004, he was added to the Dance Music Hall of Fame during a special event in New York. In 2013, on what would have been his 69th birthday, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in music.

The BBC remembered him as having one of the most unique soul voices, comparing his sound to "chocolate fudge cake that could sing." In 2023, Rolling Stone placed him at number 56 on its list of the greatest singers of all time.

Awards and nominations

Barry White was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards. He won two of them for his album Staying Power at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2000.

Discography

Barry White made many albums during his career. Some of his popular studio albums include:

• I've Got So Much to Give (1973)
• Stone Gon' (1973)
• Also see "The Love Unlimited Orchestra" formed by Barry White with classic songs such as "Love's Theme" (1973)
• Can't Get Enough (1974)
• Just Another Way to Say I Love You (1975)
• Let the Music Play (1976)
• Is This Whatcha Wont? (1976)
• Barry White Sings for Someone You Love (1977)
• The Man (1978)
• I Love to Sing the Songs I Sing (1979)
• The Message Is Love (1979)
• Sheet Music (1980)
• Barry & Glodean (With Glodean White)_ (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 (1994)
• Staying Power (1999)