Regarded as one of the most heartrending and romantic voices in soul, R&B, and disco music, Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter on September 12, 1944, in Galveston Texas, found success in the genre’s companies. Listening to Ray Charles or Marvin Gaye is part of the childhood memories of White, who is known to growing up in the Watts area of Los Angeles. Accompanied by his mother, he used to listen to classical music and later became a fan of R&B and soul singers. One of the turning points in his life came when he listened to Elvis Presley’s It’s Now or Never song when he was doing a short jail term. Meeting White during that phase of his life acted as a motivation for him to revive his life.
The early 1960s marked the beginning of his career in music with several local bands; he also performed solo under different names like Lee Barry. White came to prominence in the middle of 1960s, acquiring considerable industry knowledge as a songwriter, arranger, and producer for Bronco and Downey labels. Along with Paul Politi, he co-produced early hits like I Feel Love Comin’ On with Felice Taylor. These experiences not only strengthened but also added value and backed credibility to his career graph.
In 1972, White cashed out for the first time as a producer and songwriter for the girl group Love Unlimited when he walked in the rain with the one he loved. He also started the Love Unlimited Orchestra which was a 40 member ensemble that incorporated classical music, soul and funk. Love’s Theme, their first instrumental hit, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 which established White as a serious contender in orchestral soul.
White was persuaded to release his own material despite wanting to remain behind the scenes. The 1973 release of his debut album I’ve Got So Much to Give transformed him into a powerful voice in soul. Its lead single I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby topped the R&B charts, kicking off a decade laden with chart-topping romantic songs featuring extravagant orchestrations and lush, sultry verses.
In the 1970s, he released hit singles like Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe, You’re the First, The Last, My Everything, and Never, Never Gonna Give You Up. He was known for his deep voice, flawless deep production, and onstage presence. Therefore, he received numerous accolades such as “The Maestro”, “Dr. Love” and “The Walrus of Love” The Uk version of him.
White was still putting out music, and serving his loyal fan base even when Mainstream Charts were not covering him in the 80s. The 90s were a great time for him as Nostalgia Vitale seemed to take a toll. White’s 1994 release “The Icon Is Love” was quite the best seller and gained him the title of No1 R&B artist with Practice What You Preach, earning him his first R&B top single in around 20 er. His last album was “Staying Power” released in 1999 and won him two Grammy Awards.
His legacy still looms strong even after his death, July 4, 2003 due to kidney failure and stroke. Today, Barry White is remembered for selling an amazing 100+ r record alongside a tone of spectacular love songs. Barry White’s voice refuses to fade and still remains one of the most recognized voices in music.
Contents
Top Songs
- Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
- You’re the First, the Last, My Everything
- I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby
- Never, Never Gonna Give You Up
- What Am I Gonna Do with You
- Let the Music Play
- It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me
- Your Sweetness Is My Weakness
- Practice What You Preach
- Staying Power
Discography (Studio Albums)
- I’ve Got So Much to Give (1973)
- Stone Gon’ (1973)
- Can’t Get Enough (1974)
- Just Another Way to Say I Love You (1975)
- Let the Music Play (1976)
- Is This Whatcha Wont? (1976)
- Barry White Sings for Someone You Love (1977)
- The Man (1978)
- I Love to Sing the Songs I Sing (1979)
- The Message Is Love (1979)
- Sheet Music (1980)
- Barry & Glodean (with Glodean White) (1981)
- Beware! (1981)
- Change (1982)
- Dedicated (1983)
- The Right Night & Barry White (1987)
- The Man Is Back! (1989)
- Put Me in Your Mix (1991)
- The Icon Is Love (1994)
- Staying Power (1999)
Top Albums
- I’ve Got So Much to Give (1973) – Debut album featuring his breakthrough hit
- Can’t Get Enough (1974) – Includes two of his biggest hits
- Let the Music Play (1976) – A key album from the disco era
- Barry White Sings for Someone You Love (1977) – One of his most romantic efforts
- The Icon Is Love (1994) – Comeback album with critical and commercial acclaim
- Staying Power (1999) – His final album and Grammy-winning effort
Awards
- Grammy Awards (2000):
- Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (Staying Power)
- Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (Staying Power)
- 11 Grammy nominations overall
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2013)
- Posthumous Induction into the Dance Music Hall of Fame (2004)
- Rolling Stone ranking (2023): #56 on the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time
Barry White Singles
1960s:
- “Strange World” (1963)
- “Angel of Love” (1963)
- “Tracy (All I Have Is You)” (1963)
- “Forty Acres” (1965)
- “Man Ain’t Nothin'” (1966)
- “All in the Run of a Day” (1967)
- “In the Ghetto” (1970)
1970s:
- “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby” (1973)
- “I’ve Got So Much to Give” (1973)
- “Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up” (1973)
- “Honey Please, Can’t Ya See” (1974)
- “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” (1974)
- “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” (1974)
- “What Am I Gonna Do with You” (1975)
- “I’ll Do for You Anything You Want Me To” (1975)
- “Let the Music Play” (1976)
- “You See the Trouble with Me” (1976)
- “Baby, We Better Try to Get It Together” (1976)
- “Don’t Make Me Wait Too Long” (1976)
- “I’m Qualified to Satisfy You” (1977)
- “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me” (1977)
- “Playing Your Game, Baby” (1978)
- “Oh What a Night for Dancing” (1978)
- “Your Sweetness Is My Weakness” (1978)
- “Just the Way You Are” (1979)
- “Sha La La Means I Love You” (1979)
- “I Love to Sing the Songs I Sing” (1979)
- “How Did You Know It Was Me?” (1979)
- “Any Fool Could See (You Were Meant for Me)” (1979)
- “It Ain’t Love, Babe (Until You Give It)” (1979)
1980s:
- “Love Ain’t Easy” (1980)
- “Beware” (1981)
- “Change” (1982)
- “Passion” (1982)
- “America” (1983)
- “Don’t Let ‘Em Blow Your Mind” (1983)
- “Sho’ You Right” (1987)
- “For Your Love (I’ll Do Most Anything)” (1988)
- “Super Lover” (1989)
1990s:
- “The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)” (with Quincy Jones, Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge) (1990)
- “I Wanna Do It Good to Ya” (1990)
- “When Will I See You Again” (1990)
- “Put Me in Your Mix” (1991)
- “Practice What You Preach” (1994)
- “Come On” (1995)
- “Love Is the Icon” (1995)
- “There It Is” (1995)
- “In Your Wildest Dreams” (with Tina Turner) (1996)
- “The Longer We Make Love” (with Lisa Stansfield & Chaka Khan) (1999)
- “Staying Power” (1999)
2000s:
- “Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up (Bossmen Remix)” (2022)
Notable Collaborations:
- “All of Me” (with Big Daddy Kane) (1991)
- “Dark and Lovely (You Over There)” (with Isaac Hayes) (1992)
- “Slow Jams” (with Quincy Jones, Babyface, Tamia, Portrait) (1996)
- “Basketball Jones” (with Chris Rock) (1996)