JoJo Billingsley

JoJo Billingsley (born May 28, 1952 in Memphis , Tennessee , † June 24, 2010 in Cullman , Alabama ; actually: Deborah Jo Billingsley , later Deborah Jo Billingsley White ) was an American singer. She became known as a background singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd .

Life

Deborah Jo White grew up as the youngest of seven children in Memphis. After she was born, the family moved to Senatobia , Mississippi , where White spent most of her youth. She began singing in a Baptist church and became a soloist in her choir when she was twelve. After her father's death in 1969, she began playing in local groups and in 1972 she joined Oil Can Harry, who toured extensively across the United States. Bob O'Neil, who was doing the light for Lynyrd Skynyrd at the time, got her to audition at Lynyrd Skynyrd. Together with Cassie Gaines and Leslie Hawkins, they formed the background vocal trio that became known as The Honkettes.

White left the group in August 1977, but returned two months later. After dreaming about a plane crash, she tried to warn the band about flying. On October 20, 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd's private plane actually crashed and members Ronnie Van Zant , Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines were killed. By chance White was not on board the machine and considered this to be her awakening experience. However, she initially stayed in the music business and sang on the album Contraband by the Canadian band Alias , The Atlantic Rhythm Section, which recorded an album with Billy Joe Royal , and 38 Special . After she was attacked backstage in 1980, she left the music business.

She moved to Texas with her husband Tim White and gave birth to a son in 1983. In 1985, after the death of her daughter, who lived only 27 days, she joined the revival movement and in 1987 moved to Cullman, Alabama. She was active there as a pastor and singer. In 1995 she appeared in the documentary Freebird ... The Movie . When Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006 , White sang with the remaining group members.

On June 24, 2010, Deborah Jo Billingsley White died of cancer .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Jo Jo Billingsley. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on July 22, 2011 ; Retrieved July 9, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ ^{a b c} Trent Moore: The world is going to miss her Former Lynyrd Skynyrd back-up singer Deborah 'Jo Jo Billingsley' White dies. (No longer available online.) The Cullman Times, June 24, 2010, archived from the original July 1, 2010 ; Retrieved July 9, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
3. ↑ ^{a b} Jo Jo Billingsley bio. Archived from the original on January 9, 2009 ; Retrieved July 9, 2010 . 
4. ↑ Steve Maze: Jo Jo was back up to Skynyrd, lead in ministry. (No longer available online.) The Arab Tribune, July 5, 2010, formerly the original ; Retrieved July 9, 2010 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.