Roland White

American bluegrass music artist (1938–2022)
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Roland White
Roland White, The New Kentucky Colonels Revival, 2014
Roland White, The New Kentucky Colonels Revival, 2014
Background information
Birth nameRoland Joseph LeBlanc
Born(1938-04-23)April 23, 1938
Madawaska, Maine, U.S.
DiedApril 1, 2022(2022-04-01) (aged 83)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Mandolin, guitar
Websitewww.rolandwhite.com
Musical artist

Roland Joseph White (né LeBlanc; April 23, 1938 – April 1, 2022) was an American bluegrass music artist, performing principally on the mandolin. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2017.

Biography

White was born in Madawaska, Maine, on April 23, 1938, as Roland Joseph LeBlanc, and grew up speaking French. He was of French-Canadian descent.[1] At an early age, White formed himself, his two brothers (Eric and Clarence) and his sister (Joanne) into a bluegrass band which performed locally. When the family moved to California, the group won a talent show on a local radio station, after which a television station hired them (minus Joanne) as The Country Boys.[2]

After a two-year US Army enlistment, White re-joined the Country Boys, now renamed The Kentucky Colonels. In 1967, he had the opportunity to join the Blue Grass Boys, the backup band of his childhood idol Bill Monroe. He contributed to nine cuts with this band.[3] He stayed with that group until 1969, when he joined the Nashville Grass, the new backup band of Lester Flatt. White stayed with Flatt until 1973, when he, Clarence and Eric re-united as The New Kentucky Colonels. This only lasted a few months; he and Clarence were struck by an automobile as they loaded their equipment into their car after a performance. Roland White suffered a dislocated shoulder, but Clarence died in the accident.[2]

White then joined the progressive bluegrass group Country Gazette, staying with them for 13 years. In 1987, he joined the Nashville Bluegrass Band, staying with that group until 2000. After that he formed the Roland White Band, which was still active until his death.

White was a noted mandolin teacher who gave many workshops and private lessons and published book/CD instruction sets. Roland White died on April 1, 2022, at the age of 83 from complications of a heart attack.[4][1]

Discography

Solo albums

Collaborations

With the Kentucky Colonels

With the New Kentucky Colonels

With Country Gazette

With The Nashville Bluegrass Band

Also appears on

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Friskics-Warren, Bill (April 5, 2022). "Roland White, a Shaper of Bluegrass and Country-Rock, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Romano, Joe (September 1996). "Roland White". Bluegrass Now. Archived from the original on 2007-08-30.
  3. ^ "Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies: Bill Monroe - part I". 17 October 2009.
  4. ^ Roland White passes
  5. ^ "Roland White: I Wasn't Born to Rock 'n' Roll". Hyperbolium. June 5, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2019.

Relevant literature

External links


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International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame
1991-2000 inductees
2001-2010 inductees
2011-2020 inductees
2021-2030 inductees
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