Josh White

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Josh White, 1946 (Photo: William P. Gottlieb )

Joshua Daniel White , better known as Josh White (born February 11, 1914 or 1915 in Greenville , South Carolina , † 1969 in New York City , New York ) was an American blues , spiritual and folk guitarist and singer of African American descent .

Josh White's son, Josh White, Jr. , is also known as a socially engaged singer, guitarist, and actor.

Life

In the eastern South Carolina of the United States was born, Josh White leaves his family of six at the age of seven. The decisive factor for this is the deeply formative experience of white officials fatally beating his father for late payment of a bill.

The brutality and injustice of segregation remain central motives in White's childhood. By serving blind old black singers as a blind boy, singer and tambourine player (including James "Man" Arnold , Blind Columbus Williams , Blind Archie Jackson , Blind John Henry Walker , Blind Blake , Blind Joe Taggart (with whom the twelve year old in Chicago also Recordings) and Blind Lemon Jefferson ), he earns his money and travels to America, but lynch murders , Ku Klux Klan persecution and racial hatred continue to characterize the everyday life of the malnourished White. Nevertheless, during this time he benefited enormously from a musical point of view: at night he practiced and composed his first own lyrics, hidden in fields on his guitar.

In 1932 he signed his first recording deal with ARC in New York. First he sings blues songs , then Christian titles. With the socially critical lyrics of his own songs and the selected cover versions, he hits the mark. In 1936 an accident interrupted his career; he couldn't use his hand properly for years.

In 1939 he appeared on the John Henry show with Paul Robeson . He resumes in the 1940s (now for Moses Asch ). Two titles are surprisingly well received: St. James Infirmary Blues and Strange Fruit (the latter is aimed at lynching black people). During World War II he sang for the US Office of War Information . In 1941 he was the first black man to play in front of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the White House . In 1942 he was the first African American to appear in previously racially segregated hotels. He was the first to break the record of one million records with One Meatball in 1944 , followed by a tour of America. Pete Seeger calls him "Mr. Folk Music ".

Josh White and Mary Lou Williams , circa October 1947.
Photo: William P. Gottlieb.

White's career suffered a setback in 1950 when his name was published in the Red Channels pamphlet , in which former FBI agents listed 151 artists suspected of belonging to subversive organizations. White had appeared at several events during the war, including a. had been sponsored by communist parties and belonged in the 1940s to a group of politically active folk musicians close to the communist party, with whom he a. a. worked with the Almanac Singers .

After numerous hearings before the committee for un-American activities and justifications in front of the public, he continued his music career. Among other things, the author Elijah Wald publishes his biography under the title Josh White Society Blues . His fans now call him The Father of American Folk Music .

In 1969 Joshua Daniel White died of heart disease at the age of 54.

In 1998, the US Post recognized his contribution to music history and peace with the publication of a 32-cent stamp with his image.

literature

  • Elijah Wald: Josh White Society Blues . University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst 2000

Web links

personal data
SURNAME White, Josh
ALTERNATIVE NAMES White, Joshua Daniel (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American musician
DATE OF BIRTH February 11, 1914 or February 11, 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH Greenville, South Carolina
DATE OF DEATH 1969
Place of death New York City