Barry
White
b. 12 September 1944, Galveston, Texas, USA
Raised in Los Angeles, White immersed himself_ in the local music fraternity
while still very young, playing piano on Jesse Belvin’s hit ‘Goodnight My
Love’, at the age of 11. Barry made several records during the early 60s,
under his own name, as ‘Barry Lee’, and as a member of the Upfronts, the
Atlantics and the Majestics However, he found a greater success as a backroom
figure, guiding the careers of amongst others, Felice Taylor and Viola Wills
In 1969 White put together Love Unlimited. a female vocal trio made up of
Diana Taylor Glodean James (his future wife) and her sister Linda. He also
founded the Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40—piece ensemble to accompany
himself and the singing trio, for which he conducted, composed and arranged.
Love Unlimited’s success in 1972 with ‘Walkin inThe Rain With The One I
Love’, featuring~ White’s gravelly, passion-soaked voice on the telephone,
rejuvenated Barry’s own career, during which he scored major US hits with
‘I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby’, ‘Never, Never Gonna Give
Ya Up’ (both 1973), ‘Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe’ and ‘You’re
The First, The Last, My Everything’ (both 1974) all of which proved just as
popular in the UK. With these, the artist established a well-wrought formula
where catchy pop/soul melodies were fused to sweeping arrangements and the
singer’s husky growl. The style quickly verged on self-parody as the sexual
content of the lyrics grew more explicit, but although his pop hits lessened
towards the end of the 70s, he remained the idolatry subject of live
performances. The singer’s last major hit was in 1978 with Billy Joel’s
‘Just The Way You Are’. He later undertook several recordings with Glodean
White before returning to the UK Top 20 in 1987 with ‘Sho’ You Right’.
The subject of critical approbation, particularly with reference to his large
frame. White’s achievements during the peak of his career, in securing gold
and platinum discs for worldwide sales, should not be underestimated. Lisa
Stansfield has often voiced her approval of White’s work and in 1992, she
and White rerecorded a version of Stansfield’s hit, ‘All Around The
World’ but it was not as successful as the original.
Albums: I’ve
Got So Much To Give (1973), StoneGon’
(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), Barry
White The Man (1978), The Message Is
Love (1979), I Love To Sing The
Songs I Sing (1979), Barry Whites
Sheet Music (1980), The Best Of Our
Love (1981), with Glodean James Barry
And Glodean (1981), Beware! (1981),
Change (1982), Dedicated (1983),
The Right Night And Barry White (1987),
The Man Is Back! (1989), In
Your Mix (1991). Compilations: Barry
White’s Greatest Hits (1975), Barry
White’s Greatest Hits Vol.2 (1977), Heart
And Soul (1985), Satin & Soul (1987),
The Collection (1988), Satin
& Soul Vol. 2 (1990) ,Just For You (1993).
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