Ike White

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Ike White ( 1945 - 2018 ) was an American guitarist , singer , composer and multi-instrumentalist , who also became known under the pseudonym David Maestro .

life and career

At the age of 19, White was sentenced to life imprisonment at Tehachapi Prison in San Luis Obispo , California , for "allegedly murdering a grocery store owner in a robbery ." In prison he began to compose songs and to make music with his fellow inmates. Due to White's musical talent, the prison's gas chamber was made available to him as a rehearsal room .

The music producer Jerry Goldstein , who heard him in the prison band The San Quentin Prison Band , then offered him the chance to make music recordings. Goldstein believed Ike White would be the next Jimi Hendrix . He was able to persuade the prison director to allow the recording with a mobile recording studio in his prison. This is how the album Changin 'Times was created in 1974 .

Goldstein later said: “The recording captivates with its musicality and the catchy melodies. She boasts of elaborate arrangements, backing vocals, luscious strings and lively brass, and shows no sign of being taken in a maximum security prison. ”Goldstein also said that White did not make the most of the circumstances that became his In favor: "He was he at the right time, in the right place - but unfortunately didn't make anything out of it!"

The release of the music album two years later allowed White to afford a lawyer to request his release. A campaign initiated by Stevie Wonder eventually led to White's release in 1978. The life sentence has been lifted. White Goldstein's secretary married Deborah while in prison. Everything looked good for his future as a musician in freedom. He took out large loans from creditors that he could not repay. In order to escape the donors, White disappeared from the public for years after his release. He lived under various pseudonyms in the USA , including David White and David Ontiveros, his mother's maiden name, and remarried several times. The marriages did not remain childless.

Under the pseudonym David Maestro, White worked as a kitschy all-round entertainer in the last years of his life. But his ability to play different instruments, shapes and styles, all of which he mastered equally well, earned him great recognition and praise. He was often booked as a guest musician for music recordings.

In 2014 the documentary filmmaker Daniel Vernon became aware of White and his story and began filming a documentary about his life. After the film was completed, White committed suicide for unknown reasons.

The film Changin 'Times of Ike White wasn't released until 2020.

The album Changin 'Times is considered a milestone in soul music .

Discography

Changin 'Times , LAX Records 1976, LP

Track list (all tracks composed by Ike White)

A side title length
A1 Changin 'Times 9:23
A2 Comin 'home 3:54
A3 Antoinette 8:48
B side
B1 I remember George 9:58
B2 Happy face 5:12
B3 Love and Affection 5:37
Length: 42:53

occupation

  • Guitar, keyboards, vocals - Ike White
  • Bass - Doug Rauch
  • Drums - Greg Errico
  • Producer - Jerry Goldstein

Published as David Maestro

  • Ike White AKA David Maestro - Different Stages , 2020
  • David Maestro - Love Songs (Lana's Choice Vol. 1) , 2013, CD
  • David Maestro - Love Songs 2 , 2020, CD

As a guest musician

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ammar Kalia: Murder, mystery and a hit record. May 18, 2020, accessed in 2020 .
  2. ↑ Guilty!
  3. ↑ IMDb: The Changin 'Times of Ike White. 2019, accessed in 2020 .
  4. ↑ Discogs: Eric Burdon & Jimmy Witherspoon - Guilty! Accessed in 2020 .
  5. ↑ Discogs: Eric Burdon & Jimmy Witherspoon - Black & White Blues. Accessed in 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME White, Ike
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Maestro, David (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American musician and composer
DATE OF BIRTH 1945
DATE OF DEATH 2018