For other uses, see Josh White (disambiguation). Josh White Birth name Joshua Daniel White Also known as Pinewood Tom Tippy Barton Born February 11, 1914 Origin Greenville, South Carolina, United States Died September 5, 1969 (aged 55) Manhasset, New York Genres Piedmont blues, country blues, topical songwriting Occupations Singer, actor, songwriter Instruments Guitar, Vocals Years active 1928 - 1969 Labels Paramount, ARC, Decca, Elektra Joshua Daniel White (February 11, 1914 – September 5, 1969), known as Josh White, was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor, and civil rights activist. He also recorded under the names Pinewood Tom and Tippy Barton in the 1930s. White grew up in the Jim Crow South. During the 1920s and 1930s, he became a prominent race records artist, with a prolific output of recordings in genres including Piedmont blues, country blues, gospel, and social protest songs. In 1931, White moved to New York, and within a decade his fame had spread widely; his repertoire expanded to include urban blues, jazz, traditional folk songs, and political protest songs. He soon was in demand as an actor on radio, Broadway, and film. White also became the closest African-American friend and confidant to president Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, Whites anti-segregationist and international human rights political stance presented in many of his recordings and in his speeches at rallies resulted in the McCarthyites assuming him to be a Communist. Accordingly, from 1947 through the mid-1960s, White became caught up in the anti-Communist Red Scare, and combined with the resulting attempt to clear his name, his career was damaged. Whites musical style influenced many future generations of musical artists, including, Brownie McGhee, Pete Seeger, Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge, Nat King Cole, Harry Belafonte, Lonnie Donegan, Eartha Kitt, Alexis Korner, Odetta, Elvis Presley, Tracy Chapman, Joan Armatrading, The Kingston Trio, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Merle Travis, Dave Van Ronk, Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, Eric Weissberg, Judy Collins, Mike Bloomfield, Danny Kalb, Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Richie Havens, Don McLean, Roy Harper, Ry Cooder, John Fogerty, Eva Cassidy and Jack White. Contents Career Firsts Early years 1930s: The Singing Christian and Pinewood Tom 1940s: Josh White and his Guitar At the Café Society White and the Roosevelts Movies and theater 1950s: White and the Blacklist Later life Signature guitars Nail problems Death Legacy Song and poetry tributes Personal life Posthumous honors Filmography Other films containing recordings by White See also Footnotes References External links Video
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 07:11:48 +0000
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