New Members
Tony Joe White
8-4-2016 (Sawtelle Room)
Louisiana born Tony Joe White, or The Swamp Fox as he's aptly called, is an American Original; a national musical treasure; the real deal - really. White is best known for 1969’s “Polk Salad Annie” and for "Rainy Night in Georgia," which he wrote but was first made popular by Brook Benton. He also wrote "Steamy Windows" and "Undercover Agent for the Blues" both big hits for Tina Turner in 1989; those two songs came by way of Turner's producer at the time, Mark Knopfler, who is a friend of White. Dusty Springfield had a hit with “Willie and Laura Mae Jones” and Elvis Presley brought “For Ol’ Times Sake” and “I’ve Got a Thing About You Baby” to the charts.
But White has always been a singular performer in his own right; the honeyed burr of his baritone, his alternately tough and tender vocal delivery and liberal use of his “whomper stomper” wah-wah pedal lend him a completely distinctive sound. Simply put, nobody, but nobody, sounds like Tony Joe White. He's got the down-home swampy bayou thing down, not because he studied it, but because it's who he is - it's in his blood.
Some of his songs, like “They Caught the Devil and Put Him in Jail in Eudora, Arkansas” and “My Kind of Woman” could blow the doors off any roadhouse south of the Mason-Dixon line. While his ballads, like "Louisiana Rain" will show you where Blues came from and still lives…..
He has worked with all the greats in the business, including the legendary team of Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowdwith the mighty Muscle Shoals sessioneers in support. But despite his illustrious past, he feels no pressure to top himself. “Maybe I’ll stop playing shows and making records when the songs quit coming to me" he says. "But they still come to me…"
Tony Joe recently made a guest appearance with the Foo Fighters on Letterman for the performance of “Polk Salad Annie.” Watch the video HERE
Also catch the Foo Fighters HBO series "Sonic Highways" Nashville episode featuring Tony Joe White, which aired Friday, Oct. 31.
Tony has just released "Tony Joe White: The Complete Warner Brothers Albums" an amazing 2-CD collection of all the classic albums he recorded for Warner Bros. in the early ‘70s (all of which are out of print and costing a mint online) plus some non-LP singles, not available anywhere else.
AND he has a brand new CD coming out in May called "Rain Crow." Tony will be signing copies of these albums at the show.
More great videos: Hoodoo Now - Swamp Rap - Lake Placid Blues
Date and Time
Thursday Aug 4, 2016
