KWXY Presents ● A Classic Conversation with Barry White

Barry White / Radio Station Publicity Photo / A&M Records

Barry White was a singer/songwriter who performed both as a solo artist and as the creator of The Love Unlimited Orchestra.  White is one of the most successful artists of all time, with nineteen studio albums, two Grammy Awards and more than 100 million records sold worldwide.  On Barry White’s official website, writer Max Bell described White as “[t]he undisputed king of boudoir disco, a master of soul and popular R&B.”

Born Barry Eugene Carter in Galveston, Texas on September 12, 1944, to unmarried parents Melvyn White and Sadie Carter, White grew up in Los Angeles, California in the Watts District, graduating from Manual Arts High School.  He credited the onset of puberty with the sudden change of his voice, a voice which would later become his trademark.  A onetime gang member, and once jailed for auto theft, White credited “It’s Now Or Never” by Elvis Presley as the inspiration for turning around his life. 

Barry White’s career began in the 1960s as a backup singer, producer, songwriter and musician.  It took off in earnest beginning in 1972 as the producer of the girl group, Love Unlimited. In 1973, White created The Love Unlimited Orchestra as a backing group.  His first big hit was the instrumental “Love’s Theme,” reaching number one that year and which appeared the following year on the orchestra’s debut album.

Some of Barry White songs that were such iconic influences in R&B, soul, and boudoir disco, include “You’re the First, The Last, My Everything”, “Never Never Gonna Give You Up”, and “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love”. There are so many more that went gold and platinum. Barry’s uniquely recognizable voice also made him highly sought after for commercial work, as an active voiceover talent in both television and motion pictures. 

Barry White - Publicity Photo A&M Records

Barry met with great success as a performer, but he was plagued by health problems throughout most of his life due to excess weight and exceptionally heavy smoking. Barry was awaiting a kidney transplant in 2003, but his overall health prevented it.  Barry White passed away in Los Angeles, California on July 4, 2003, at age 58.  

Barry White’s uniquely recognizable voice and his contribution to R&B music, soul, secured his place American Music History. He will not be forgotten.

Listen to a Classic Conversation and the Music of Barry White on The Wink Martindale Show today at 1pm on KWXY Music Radio 92.3FM ● 1340AM ● streaming at kwxy.com and ivoxradio.com