Artie "Blues Boy" White

During the 1970s, when enthusiasm for Chicago blues had sunk to historic lows, scarcely any artists from that city succeeded in reaching the R&B charts. Smooth-voiced Artie “Blues Boy” White achieved that uncommon breakthrough in 1977 with his Altee single “Leanin’ Tree.” His earliest performances took place in gospel settings; at eleven he joined the spiritual group the Harps of David, and after relocating to Chicago in 1956 he continued singing in church with the Full Gospel Wonders. White has recounted being drawn toward blues when a prosperous stranger pulled up in a gleaming Cadillac and offered him ten thousand dollars to cut some blues sides.

Although his earlier 1970s releases on PM and Gamma failed to register, the arrival of “Leanin’ Tree” allowed him to negotiate stronger fees throughout the Chicago club scene. For a period he attempted to operate his own venue, Bootsy’s Lounge, yet the pull of performing and recording prevailed. In 1985 he delivered his first full-length album, Blues Boy, for the Shreveport-based Ronn Records. Ichiban signed him in 1987; over the next several years he recorded six well-regarded soul-blues collections for the label, which were later summarized on a 1991 best-of disc. Chicago songwriter Bob Jones, composer of “Leanin’ Tree,” and fellow Ichiban artist Travis Haddix supplied most of the material. Little Milton Campbell, one of White’s chief influences, contributed lead guitar to the 1989 album Thangs Got to Change.

After moving to Waldoxy, White issued Different Shades of Blue in 1994, the Muddy Waters tribute Back Home to Clarksdale in 1997, and Can We Get Together in 1999. He remained active in 2002, releasing Can’t Get Enough on the Gold Circle label.