Clarence White

For other people named Clarence White, see Clarence White (disambiguation).
Clarence White
White in 1970
White in 1970
Background information
Birth nameClarence Joseph LeBlanc
BornJune 7, 1944
Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
DiedJuly 15, 1973(1973-07-15) (aged 29)[1]
Palmdale, California, U.S.
GenresBluegrass, country, country rock, rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer
Instrument(s)Guitar, mandolin, vocals
Years active1954–1973
LabelsSundown, Republic, Briar International, World Pacific, Bakersfield International, Columbia, Warner Bros.

Clarence White (born Clarence Joseph LeBlanc; June 7, 1944 – July 15, 1973)[1] was an American bluegrass and country guitarist and singer.[2][3] He is best known as a member of the bluegrass ensemble the Kentucky Colonels and the rock band the Byrds, as well as for being a pioneer of the musical genre of country rock during the late 1960s.[3] White also worked extensively as a session musician, appearing on recordings by the Everly Brothers, Joe Cocker,[4] Ricky Nelson, Pat Boone, the Monkees, Randy Newman,[5] Gene Clark,[3] Linda Ronstadt,[6] Arlo Guthrie,[7] and Jackson Browne among others.[8]

Together with frequent collaborator Gene Parsons, he invented the B-Bender, a guitar accessory that enables a player to mechanically bend the B-string up a whole tone and emulate the sound of a pedal steel guitar. White was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016, and was inducted a second time in 2019 as a member of the Kentucky Colonels.

  1. ^ a b Hjort, Christopher (2008). So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-by-Day (1965–1973). London: Jawbone Press. p. 321. ISBN 978-1-906002-15-2.
  2. ^ Hjort, Christopher (2008). So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-By-Day (1965–1973). London: Jawbone Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-906002-15-2.
  3. ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Clarence White biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corp. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  4. ^ Delgatto, John (2008). White Lightnin' (CD booklet). Clarence White. Pasadena: Sierra Records. pp. 2–5.
  5. ^ Rogan, Johnny (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited - The Sequel (2nd ed.). London: Rogan House. pp. 267–268. ISBN 0-9529540-1-X.
  6. ^ Kingsbury, Paul (1998). The Encyclopedia of Country Music: The Ultimate Guide to the Music. New York City: Oxford University Press, USA. p. 581. ISBN 0-19511-671-2.
  7. ^ Reineke, Hank (2012). Arlo Guthrie: The Warner/Reprise Years. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. pp. 252–253. ISBN 978-0-81088-331-4.
  8. ^ "Jackson Browne album credits". AllMusic. Rovi Corp. Retrieved 2017-12-30.