Andrew White (saxophonist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrew White
|
|
|---|---|
.JPG)
At home in DC, 2010
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Andrew Nathaniel White III |
| Born | September 6, 1942 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | November 11, 2020 (aged 78) Silver Spring, Maryland |
| Genres | Hard Bop, jazz, avant-garde |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, musician, artist, poet, lyricist, composer, record producer |
| Instruments | Saxophone, oboe, bass, piano |
| Years active | 1960–2020 |
| Labels | Riverside Records, Andrew's Music |
| Associated acts | JFK Quintet |
Andrew White (born September 6, 1942 – died November 11, 2020) was an amazing American musician. He was a master of many instruments, like the saxophone, oboe, and bass guitar. He was also a music expert and publisher, sharing his knowledge with the world.
Contents
Andrew White's Musical Journey
Andrew White was born in Washington, D.C.. He grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, where he finished school. In 1960, he returned to Washington, D.C., to study at Howard University. He graduated with honors in 1964, focusing on music theory and the oboe. He even studied the oboe further at the Paris Conservatory of Music in France!
A Saxophone Star
Andrew White became known as a saxophonist in 1960. He played with the J.F.K. Quintet, a group from Washington D.C., and they recorded two albums. He also performed with many famous musicians, including Kenny Clarke, Otis Redding, McCoy Tyner, and Elvin Jones.
He played solo concerts in famous places like New York City's Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He also performed at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and in Paris, France. He even toured seven French cities by himself!
Master of the Oboe
Andrew White was also a talented oboist for ten years. He studied at special music programs like Tanglewood in Massachusetts. He also performed modern music with groups like The Center Of Creative And Performing Arts. From 1968 to 1970, he was the main oboist for the American Ballet Theatre.
Bass Guitar Grooves
From 1966 to 1976, Andrew White was a fantastic electric bassist. He played with the legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder from 1968 to 1970. He was also the main electric bassist for the popular singing group The 5th Dimension from 1970 to 1976. You can hear his bass playing on Weather Report's album, Sweetnighter, which was recorded in 1973.
Honors and Awards
In 2006, Andrew White received a special Gold Medal from the French Society of Arts, Sciences, and Letters in Paris. This award is very important, and he shared it with other famous people like violinist Lord Yehudi Menuhin and scientist Albert Schweitzer. Andrew White was the only American to receive this award that year!
In 2007, Howard University honored him with the Benny Golson Master Award for his amazing saxophone skills.
Sharing Music Knowledge
Andrew White was also a musicologist, meaning he studied music in depth. He published many music books through his company, Andrew's Music. One of his most famous works was The Works of John Coltrane, Vols. 1 through 14. This huge collection included 701 transcriptions of John Coltrane's improvisations. He carefully wrote down every note! He also wrote a book about John Coltrane's music called Trane and Me (1981).
When Did Andrew White Pass Away?
Andrew White passed away on November 11, 2020, in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Music Andrew White Released
Andrew White released many albums throughout his career, both as a band leader and playing with other artists.
As a Leader
Here are a few of the albums he released where he was the main artist:
- Who Got de Funk? (1973)
- Live in Bucharest (1973)
- Passion Flower (1974)
- Songs for a French Lady (1974)
- Live at the Foolery in Washington D.C. Vol. One (1975)
- Marathon '75 Vol. 1 (1976)
- Red Top (1977)
- Bionic Saxophone (1978)
- Saxophonitis (1979)
- Fonk Update (1981)
- Gigtime 2000 Vol. 1 Nouveau Fonk (1999)
Playing with Other Artists
Andrew White also played on albums with other famous musicians:
- With Julius Hemphill: Fat Man and the Hard Blues (1991)
- With McCoy Tyner: Asante (1974)
- With Weather Report: I Sing the Body Electric (1972) and Sweetnighter (1973)
- With The 5th Dimension: Live!! (1971)
- With Elvin Jones: Soul Train (1980)
