Josh White Senior & Josh White Junior

Josh White

Source: Past Blues

Born in Greenville, South Carolina on 11 February 1914, guitarist Josh White got his first taste of blues as a child by rendering services such as guiding for blind street singers, singing and playing guitar with them as well. Via one Blind Man Arnold he came to the assistance of Blind Joe Taggart with whom he traveled to Chicago in 1927. American Music has them recording tracks circa October of 1928. White backed Taggart as Blind Tim Russell on 'There's a Hand Writing on the Wall' / 'I've Crossed the Separation Line' issued on Herwin 93008. Taggart released that as Blind Jeremiah Taylor on Herwin 93029. He recorded them as Blind Joe Taggart on Paramount 71727. White issued several titles with Taggart in 1929 as well as 'Wang Wang Harmonica Blues' with the Carver Boys on Paramount 12822.

Composition: ?

Composition: ?

White released his first name titles in 1932: 'Black and Evil Blues' / 'Little Brother Blues' on Banner 32631 and Melotone M12537. He used the pseudonym, Pinewood Tom, from 1932 into 1935, again in 1959. In 1933 Josh released his political composition, 'Low Cotton', on Banner 32858 and Melotone M12785.

Composition: Josh White

Composition: Josh White

Composition: Charlie Spand / Willie Walker

Composition: Josh White

Composition: Josh White

White married Carol Carr in 1933, with whom he performed and recorded on occasion, as he would with his three daughters, Beverly, Fern and Judy. His son, blues musician, Josh White Jr., was born in New York City on 30 November 1940. White and Carr also raised a foster daughter named Delores.

During the forties White's career expanded into acting on Broadway ('John Henry' January 1940) and civil rights activism as he continued his decade-long stint at the Café Society in Greenwich Village (the first integrated nightclub in America as of 1938). In December 1940 he joined the Golden Gate Quartet for titles at the Coolidge Auditorium in Washington DC recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress. He formed a friendship with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt upon performing at the White House in January of 1941. In May the same year he joined Pete Seeger and the Almanac Singers on a couple of albums titled 'Songs for John Doe' and 'Talking Union'. His own first album was 'Southern Exposure' gone down sometime in 1941.

From the album 'Strange Fruit' issued on Keynote 541 / 542 / 543

Composition: Traditional

White's issue of 'One Meat Ball' in 1944 is said to be the first title by a black artist to sell a million copies.

Composition: Hy Zaret / Lou Singe 1944 from 'The Lone Fish Ball' by George Lane 1855

It was latter 1944 or 1945 when Josh White Junior made his public debut at age four with his father at the Café Society. Josh Senior made his first appearance in film in 1945 per 'The Crimson Canary'. In 1949 Josh Junior appeared with his father in the Broadway production of 'How Long Til Summer?'.

Composition: ?

   IMDb   Wikipedia

Though not a Communist, nor associated with any political party, White's political activism resulted in testimony before the HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) in 1950. White had already begun getting blacklisted from the entertainment industry in 1947. Now he had to relocate to London to continue his career.

Composition: Jacques Wolfe

In 1954-55 White was able to return to America to start slowly rebuilding his career there, beginning with the recording of the album, 'The Story of John Henry: A Musical Narrative' issued on Electra 701 in 1955, then as 'The Story of John Henry: 25th Anniversary Album' on Wounded Bird Records WOU 7123 in 1957. The remainder of White's life found him performing in various venues throughout the world, much honored and greatly popular. In the meantime, Josh White Junior is everywhere said to have made his first record, the doo wop oriented 'See Saw', in 1956. But the only recording session that I've found for him wasn't until 1959 toward 'See Saw' bw 'Longing'. In September of 1961 Josh Junior joined Josh Senior and daughter, Beverly, on the album, 'At Town Hall' (Mercury MG 20672). Not so focused on blues as his father, Josh Junior would perform largely folk and popular music over the years. Meanwhile, Stefan Wirz at American Music traces Josh White Senior to as late as January of 1963 during which he put away Volumes 1 and 2 of 'In the Beginning' at the Great Northern Hotel in NYC with the support of Sonny Boy Williamson II at harmonica, Eddie Williams on drums, Floyd Morris then Bobby Scott at piano, and Herb Brown then Richard Davis at bass. Josh White Junior then issued his first name album the next year titled 'I'm On My Own Way'.

Composition: Howard Liebling / Marvin Hamlisch   Orchestration: Jack Pleis

Composition: Howard Liebling / Marvin Hamlisch   Orchestration: Jack Pleis

See 'Free and Equal Blues: Rare Performances' 2001

Composition

Composition: Gary Geld / Peter Udell   Arrangement: Alan Lorber

Composition: Harry Belafonte / Alan Greene / Malvina Reynolds

White Senior died on an operating table on September 5, 1969, during heart valve surgery in Manhasset, New York. He left a legacy of well over 200 recordings. Having released numerous albums over the years, Josh Junior is yet active.

Composition: Mayon Weeks

Composition: ?

Composition: Hy Zaret / Lou Singe 1944 from 'The Lone Fish Ball' by George Lane 1855

Further Reading: Ellen Harold / Peter Stone

Jason Ankeny (All Music)

The History Makers

Wikipedia

Audio: Internet Archive   YouTube

Recordings: Sessions: DAHR (1959)

Further Video: Greenwich Village Folk Festival (2 Aug 2020)

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