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Barry White

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter, was an American singer, songwriter, actor and producer in R&B, soul and disco. He was born in 1944 in Galveston, Texas, grew up in Watts in South Los Angeles and learned to play the piano by imitating his mother's classical records. His voice suddenly deepened around the age of thirteen. At sixteen he spent four months in prison. There he heard Elvis Presley singing on the radio, which he later saw as the moment his life took a different direction.

Music and breakthrough

In the 1960s he began in vocal groups and at small labels in Los Angeles. His greatest success came in the 1970s, as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, which reached number one with Love's Theme, a song White wrote himself. His first albums as a soloist were I've Got So Much to Give and Stone Gon' in 1973, followed by Can't Get Enough in 1974 and Just Another Way to Say I Love You in 1975. He recorded twenty studio albums, won two Grammys and is counted among the best-selling artists of all time. He died in 2003.

Influence

His trademark was the bass of his voice and a romantic image. He had strings, organ and a smooth rhythm section together form a warm, flowing sound. In this way he had a great influence on the soul and disco of the 1970s and on the slow jams made later.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Love's Theme by the Love Unlimited Orchestra. Notice how the strings and the guitar wash together over a soft rhythm, without vocals.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: ArtistsPhilly soul