JoJo Billingsley

JoJo Billingsley ( born 1952 in Memphis, Tennessee, † June 24, 2010 in Cullman, Alabama, actually: Deborah Jo Billingsley, later Deborah Jo Billingsley White ) was an American singer. She is best known as a background singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Life

Deborah Jo White grew up as the youngest of seven children initially in Memphis. After her birth, the family moved to Senatobia, Mississippi, where White spent most of her youth. She began to sing in a Baptist church and was a soloist with twelve of their choir. After her father's death in 1969, she began playing in local groups and came in 1972 to Oil Can Harry who toured extended by the United States. Bob O'Neil, who made the light for Lynyrd Skynyrd at this time, you got an audition for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Together with Cassie Gaines and Leslie Hawkins, they formed the background vocals trio, which became known under the name The Honkettes.

White left the group in August 1977, but returned two months later back again. After a dream about a plane crash, she tried to warn the band of flying. On 20 October 1977, private plane from Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed in fact and the members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines were killed. White was not by accident aboard the plane and saw this as her awakening experience. Nevertheless, they initially remained in the music business and sang on the album Contraband the Canadian band Alias ​​, The Atlantic Rhythm Section, who received an album with Billy Joe Royal, and 38 Special. After she was attacked backstage in 1980, she left the music business.

She moved with her husband Tim White to Texas in 1983 and brought a son into the world. 1985, after the death of her daughter, who lived only 27 days, she joined the revival movement and moved in 1987 after Cullman, Alabama. She was active as a pastor and a singer there. In 1995, she appeared in the documentation Freebird ... The Movie. As Lynyrd Skynyrd were included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 13 March 2006, White sang with the remaining group members.

On 24 June 2010 Deborah Jo Billingsley White died of cancer.