Barry
White, the 'Voice of Love' is dead
Independence's
Day is normally a day of celebration for most but this past Independence
Day was a sad one for soul music fans everywhere (myself included)
as we lost one of our true greats singers. The Maestro, the crooner,
the Voice of Love we all know as Barry
White is dead at the age of 58 after surcoming to his
long battle with kidney failure.
Mr White passed away around
9:30 a.m. Independence Day, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Years
of chronic high blood pressure resulted in kidney failure, and White
was admitted to the hospital last September to await a kdiney transplant.
While undergoing dialysis treatment in May, he suffered a stroke
that impaired his speech and left him partially paralyzed.
Barry Eugene White was born
in Galveston, Texas September 12, 1944, but raised in Los Angeles.
It was no secret that Barry had a rough time of it growing up and
spent time in jail for various petty crimes in his youth.
But despite his troubles from
an early age, he had a passion for music and wanted to be involved
in some way and in 1960 got his break recording the track 'Little
Girl' with the group The Upfronts.
Getting a taste of the process only strengthened his desire for
music and so he recorded tracks under the name 'Barry
Lee' and sung with other groups including The
Atlantics. From there he went on to do A&R work for
various labels, producing and managing acts at the same time. In
the late 60s he formed Love Unlimited,
an all girl group that consisted of Diana
Taylor, Glodean James
(who would eventually become his wife) and her sister Linda.
They hit pay dirt in the early 70s with the track 'Walking
in the rain (with the one I
love') and future hits followed including 'Move
me no mountain', 'Giving him
a love' and the rare groove staple classic 'If
you want me, Say it'
He also formed The
Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40-piece ensemble to accompany
himself and the singing trio, for which he conducted, composed and
arranged. It was at this time that he decided to record for himself
again and the rest is history. You know the stasndards 'It's
Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me', 'Can't
Get Enough of Your Love, Babe', 'You're
the First, the Last, My Everything', 'Your
Sweetness Is My Weakness' but more me, the songs that
really shined were 'Midnight and You',
'Whisper Softly', 'September',
'It's Only Love', 'Look
at Her' and 'Early Years'
to name.
White body of work includes
worldwide sales in excess of 100 million, 106 gold albums, 41 platinum
albums, 20 gold singles and 10 platinum singles. He won his first
two Grammys for his last studio album, 1999's Staying
Power. His manager Ned Shankman
said he and White had been working on a duets album, scheduled for
release later this year on the Def Soul label.
White, who was married and
divorced twice, is survived by eight children--daughters La
Nece, Deniece, Nina,
Shehera, 4-week-old
Barriana, sons Barry
Jr, Darrell and stepson
McKevin (Glodean's son). He
will be sorely missed.
Source: eonline.com
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New
Barry White album set to drop later this year
Speaking
of Barry, before his untimely demise he was in the studio working
on a new duets album according to his manager Ned
Shankman.
Although details are sketchy at the moment, it is said that both
he and Barry were working on an album on Def
Soul Records that would be released later this year.
No line up has been given regarding those who have made appearances
on the album but I'm sure it will be stellar list as many wanted
to work with him.
I'll keep you posted as more information becomes available.
Source: eonline.com
