The American rock singer Tony Joe White (“Rainy Night in Georgia”) is dead. His record company Yep Roc, quoting his family. White died on Wednesday at the age of 75 in his home in Leiper’s Fork in Tennessee, according to US media reported.
“Tony Joe White was a true American Original,” said the co-founder of Yep Roc Records Glenn Dicker, the musician. “Everything that he made, he made with his own unique voice.” His company considers itself lucky to have in recent years worked with him.
Even Elvis sang the songs of Tony Joe White
White described his music as “Swamp Rock”. The roots of his style lie in Louisiana, in the South of the United States, where he was born and grew up.
His first Album as a singer, guitarist, and Songwriter, took White in 1968. Other artists admired his songs and landed Hits with their own Cover versions.
An early example of Brook Benton and his recording of “Rainy Night in Georgia”. White’s most successful Song, “Polk Salad Annie” was part of the Repertoire of over 40 singers, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Hallyday and Tom Jones.
Elvis Presley: The main panels of the King Fullscreen
With these recordings all started: Accompanied by Scotty Moore (guitar) and Bill Black (Bass), Elvis under the direction of Sun Records chief Sam Phillips, the fusion of Country with Rhythm & Blues to Rockabilly. Quickly, the young singer with his explosive mixture of nationwide attention: in 1956, he moved to the Major Label RCA, and quickly rose to international icon. Without the Sun Sessions, this would not have been possible.
©Sun Records che/DPA
