Lavelle White
Lavelle White ( born July 3, 1929 in Amite City, Louisiana, United States) is an African American blues and soul singer and songwriter.
Biography
Born the daughter of tenant farmers ( sharecroppers ), Lavelle White began at age 12, writing poetry, which developed songwriting. At 15, she went to Houston in Texas, where she performed with guitarist Clarence Hollimon in clubs. Her breakthrough came when Johnny Copeland she recommended Don Robey, owner of the record label Duke and Peacock Records. Between 1958 and 1964 she recorded 14 tracks that were released as singles at Duke Records. Some of the songs they had written. Under the pseudonym Deadric Malone wrote White also Lead Me On, 1960, a hit for Bobby Bland.
After the end of their record deal Lavelle White toured the States. She stood with many musicians on stage, including Bobby Bland, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Junior Parker, Aretha Franklin and Jerry Butler. In 1978 she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she performed in clubs with colleagues such as Junior Wells, Lonnie Brooks, and Buddy Guy. After eight years, she returned to Houston, where she was later awarded the title of Houston's Blues Artist Of The Year. Finally, she moved to the area from Austin, Texas, where she continued to perform.
1994, some 30 years after their last singles, released their first album Miss Lavelle; she was now 65 years old. In 1997 the second album It Havent Been Easy; on two albums, she was accompanied by her former guitarist Clarence Hollimon. Lavelle White now appeared at major music festivals, and even the television was interested in them. Their third album Into the Mystic was published in 2003.
Lavelle White has been nominated four times for a Blues Music Award. In 2006, she was inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame. The same year, her band was awarded Best Blues Band in the Austin Chronicle Music Awards.