Robert White (guitarist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert White
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White in Motown's Studio A
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Willie White |
| Born | November 19, 1936 Billmeyer, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | October 27, 1994 (aged 57) Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Soul |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | mid-1950s–1980s |
| Labels | Motown |
| Associated acts | Funk Brothers, and others |
Robert Willie White (born November 19, 1936 – died October 27, 1994) was an American soul musician. He was a talented guitarist for Motown's special studio band, known as the Funk Brothers.
Robert White was born in a small town called Billmeyer, Pennsylvania. He learned to play music from his uncle. Before moving to Detroit in 1960, he toured with a group called The Moonglows. He even played the bass guitar for a while.
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Robert White's Music Career
Robert White started working as a session musician at Anna Records. Later, he became one of the main guitarists at Motown. He worked alongside two other great guitarists, Joe Messina and Eddie Willis.
Playing for Motown
At Motown, Robert mostly played rhythm guitar. This means he helped keep the beat and harmony of the songs. Sometimes, he played lead guitar when a song needed his special sound. He was known for his unique guitar style.
Famous Guitar Riffs
Robert White is most famous for creating and playing the guitar part on The Temptations' hit song "My Girl". This song was number one on the music charts! He also played on many other popular Motown songs.
Here are some of the famous songs he played on:
- "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" by Marvin Gaye
- "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye
- "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by The Supremes
- "My Cherie Amour" by Stevie Wonder
His Musical Influences
Robert White was inspired by other guitarists. Some of his influences included Oscar Moore and Wes Montgomery. He used specific guitars to record his music, like the Gibson ES 335 and the Gibson L-5.
Later Life and Legacy
In the mid-1970s, Robert White moved to Los Angeles. He continued to play music and even toured with The Temptations again in the 1980s. He also owned a recording studio.
Robert White passed away in October 1994 at the age of 57. He is remembered in the 2002 documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown. This film tells the story of the Funk Brothers and their amazing contributions to music.
See also
In Spanish: Robert White (músico) para niños
