Blues Musician. Born Booker T. Washington White, he received his first guitar at age nine and was taught to play by his father, performing hymns he learned from his mother. Other influences came from artists such as Bullet Williams and Charley Patton. At age 21 he recorded on the Victor label, enjoying a modest success while traveling to major cities in the United States. He recorded "Shake 'em on Down" while incarcerated at Mississippi State Penitentiary for shooting a man during a brawl. Upon his release from the Parchman Farm he was invited to go to Chicago to record with Bill Broonzy. During that visit he recorded the songs that he became best known for such as "Parchman Farm Blues" and "Fixin' To Die Blues". The latter was covered by Bob Dylan in 1961. White finally settled in Memphis, playing in bars and working a local factory job. It was during this time he took in his cousin, Riley King, now better known as BB King.
Blues Musician. Born Booker T. Washington White, he received his first guitar at age nine and was taught to play by his father, performing hymns he learned from his mother. Other influences came from artists such as Bullet Williams and Charley Patton. At age 21 he recorded on the Victor label, enjoying a modest success while traveling to major cities in the United States. He recorded "Shake 'em on Down" while incarcerated at Mississippi State Penitentiary for shooting a man during a brawl. Upon his release from the Parchman Farm he was invited to go to Chicago to record with Bill Broonzy. During that visit he recorded the songs that he became best known for such as "Parchman Farm Blues" and "Fixin' To Die Blues". The latter was covered by Bob Dylan in 1961. White finally settled in Memphis, playing in bars and working a local factory job. It was during this time he took in his cousin, Riley King, now better known as BB King.
Bio by: Elizabeth Reed
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