Biography
Josh White Jr., a folksinger and actor, carried forward the artistic legacy established by his father, the renowned bluesman and social activist Josh White. Born November 30, 1940 in New York City, he stepped onto the stage for the first time at age four, joining his parent at the Cafe Society nightclub. For nearly two decades the pair appeared together often, sharing bills on Broadway as well; the 1949 production How Long Til Summer? earned the younger White a special Tony Award for Best Child Actor.
His solo recording career began in 1956 with the Decca single “See Saw,” co-written by Marvin Hamlisch, a classmate at the Professional Children’s School along with Elliott Gould, Sandra Dee, Leslie Uggams, and Christopher Walken. As the folk revival gained momentum, White gradually redirected his efforts from acting toward music, launching a full solo career highlighted by the minor 1962 hit “Do You Close Your Eyes.”
College audiences embraced him as a regular touring attraction in the years that followed, during which he released The Josh White Jr. Album in 1967, One Step Further in 1968, and a self-titled Vanguard album in 1978. He headlined the PBS concert special Ramblin’ with Josh White Jr. in 1979 and starred in the 1983 theatrical biography JOSH: The Man and His Music. Further tribute came with the Grammy-nominated 1987 instrumental set Jazz, Ballads and Blues. The children’s album My Favorite Toy appeared in 1994, followed five years later by In Tribute to Josh White: House of the Rising Son. Silverwolf issued Cortelia Clark in 2000, after which White continued recording for the label with Delicate Balance in 2006, All the Children (with Ron Coden) in 2007, By Request in 2009, and Tuning for the Blues in 2010.
His solo recording career began in 1956 with the Decca single “See Saw,” co-written by Marvin Hamlisch, a classmate at the Professional Children’s School along with Elliott Gould, Sandra Dee, Leslie Uggams, and Christopher Walken. As the folk revival gained momentum, White gradually redirected his efforts from acting toward music, launching a full solo career highlighted by the minor 1962 hit “Do You Close Your Eyes.”
College audiences embraced him as a regular touring attraction in the years that followed, during which he released The Josh White Jr. Album in 1967, One Step Further in 1968, and a self-titled Vanguard album in 1978. He headlined the PBS concert special Ramblin’ with Josh White Jr. in 1979 and starred in the 1983 theatrical biography JOSH: The Man and His Music. Further tribute came with the Grammy-nominated 1987 instrumental set Jazz, Ballads and Blues. The children’s album My Favorite Toy appeared in 1994, followed five years later by In Tribute to Josh White: House of the Rising Son. Silverwolf issued Cortelia Clark in 2000, after which White continued recording for the label with Delicate Balance in 2006, All the Children (with Ron Coden) in 2007, By Request in 2009, and Tuning for the Blues in 2010.
Albums
