Born: 12 September 1944 · Died: 4 July 2003 · Age: 58
Quick facts
Date of birth12 September 1944
Date of death4 July 2003
Age at death58
NationalityAmerican
BirthplaceGalveston, United States
Editor's Take:
Barry White turned a deep, unhurried voice into one of the most recognisable sounds in popular music. He began as a behind-the-scenes arranger and producer, and only moved to the front after a music businessman urged him to release his own demos. The lush orchestral arrangements he built around Love Unlimited and his own orchestra gave disco a smoother, more romantic side. His chart presence faded in the 1980s, yet a nostalgic revival brought him back in the 1990s with a number one R&B album. Rolling Stone ranked him 56th among the greatest singers in 2023.
Key Milestones
1972: Gained his big break producing the girl group Love Unlimited
1973: Released his solo debut I've Got So Much to Give and formed the Love Unlimited Orchestra
1974: Reached US number one on the Hot 100 with a single from the album Can't Get Enough
1994: Returned to the top of the R&B album chart with The Icon Is Love
2000: Won two Grammy Awards for "Staying Power"
Barry Eugene White (né Carter; September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003) was an American R&B, soul and disco singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer.
