Someone has asked me I could do a Blog article about the velvet voiced singer Barry White and as I have been a bit lax in doing them recently I couldn’t refuse.

Barry White was born Barry Eugene Carter on 12 September 1944 in Galveston, Texas. White was raised in Los Angeles, where he immersed himself in the local music culture at an early age. He made several records during the early ’60s, under the name Barry Lee, and as a member of the Upfronts, the Atlantics and the Majestics. However, he found greater success offstage, guiding the careers of others, including Felice Taylor and Viola Wills.

In 1969, White formed the group Love Unlimited, a female vocal trio made up of Diane Taylor, Glodean James (his future wife) and her sister Linda. He also founded the Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40-piece ensemble to accompany himself and the singing trio, for which he conducted, composed and arranged.

Love Unlimited’s success in 1972 can in large part be attributed to White’s throaty vocals in such hits as “Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love.” The group’s success rejuvenated White’s own career, receiving acclaim for such songs as “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby” and “Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up” in 1973 and “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe” and “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” in 1974.

As the sexual content of the lyrics grew more explicit, he gradually became viewed as a self-parody. But though his pop hits lessened towards the end of the ’70s, his live performances remained sold out. The singer’s last major hit was in 1977 with “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me.”

During the peak of his career, White earned gold and platinum discs for worldwide sales. The UK singer Lisa Stansfield has often publicly supported White’s work and in 1992, she and White re-recorded a version of Stansfield’s hit, “All Around The World.” During the ’90s, a series of commercially successful albums proved White’s status as more than just a cult figure.

White was overweight for most of his adult life and suffered from related health problems. In October 1995, White was admitted to a hospital as a result of high blood pressure. In August 1999, White was forced to cancel a months worth of tour dates owing to exhaustion, high blood pressure and a hectic schedule. In September 2002, White was hospitalised with kidney failure attributed to chronic diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure.

While undergoing dialysis and awaiting a kidney transplant in May 2003, White suffered a severe stroke, which forced him to retire from public life. On 4 July 2003, White died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at the age of 58. His remains were cremated, and the ashes were scattered in the ocean off the Californian coast.

In an obituary referring to White by his nickname, “The Walrus of Love”, the BBC recalled “the rich timbres of one of the most distinctive soul voices of his generation, about which it was once said: ‘If chocolate fudge cake could sing, it would sound like Barry White.'”

Here is a link to some of his greatest hits.