Personalities | Bukka White | Thirties | Jazz & Blues

(Guitar, piano, vocals, 1906–77)

Booker T. Washington White was raised on a farm outside Houston, Texas; his father taught him guitar in 1915. Two years later he learned piano and by 1921 he was working barrelhouses and honky tonks in St. Louis. Inspired by a meeting with Charley Patton, he hoboed through the South for much of the 1920s. He made his recording debut for Victor in 1930 as Washington White.

White was athletic and at various times he was a boxer and played baseball for the Birmingham Black Cats. He recorded ‘Shake ’Em On Down’ for Vocalion in 1937 and the record was a considerable hit. White recorded 12 titles for Vocalion in March 1940, which are among the finest examples of pre-war country blues. He served in the US Navy during the Second World War and retired from music, until being ‘rediscovered’ in 1963.

Styles & Forms | Thirties | Jazz & Blues
Personalities | Josh White | Thirties | Jazz & Blues

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues, founding editor Howard Mandel

AUTHORITATIVE

An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...

CURATED

Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.

Rock, A Life Story

Rock, A Life Story

The ultimate story of a life of rock music, from the 1950s to the present day.

David Bowie

David Bowie

Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers his life, music, art and movies, with a sweep of incredible photographs.