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with one of the singers, Glodean BMI award for over three million leases, Love Unlimited Orchestra’s
James (who would later become covers. My Musical Bouquet and his own
White’s second wife). White chris- For the next five years, from 1974 I Love to Sing the Songs I Sing.
Remembering tened the group Love Unlimited. to 1979, there was no stopping the White signed a custom label deal
with CBS Records. At the time it
Icons of the Larry Nunes took the record to Barry White Hit Train -- his own was touted as one of the biggest
Russ Regan, who was the head Stone Gon, Barry White Sings Love
deals ever. He started a label called
past... of the Uni label owned by MCA. Songs for the One You Love (“It’s Unlimited Gold. The roster includ-
Love Unlimited’s From a Girl’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next
Point of View became a million- to Me,” “Playing Your Game Baby”), ed White, Love Unlimited, the Love
Unlimited Orchestra, Jack Perry,
Where would seller. Soon after, Regan left Uni Let the Music Play (title track, “You and a teenaged singer named
for 20th Century Records. Without See the Trouble with Me”), Just An-
Danny Pearson who charted with
they be now? Regan, White’s relationship with other Way to Say I Love You (“I’ll a song called “What’s Your Sign
Uni soured. With his relationship Do for You Anything You Want Me
with Uni in chaos and Love Unlim- To,” “Love Serenade”), The Man Girl.” He also did a duet album
with Glodean James called Barry
ited contract-bound with the label, (“Your Sweetness Is My Weak-
Berry White ing debut at the tender age of 11, Fuller Four. Bob Keene and Larry White decided he needed to work ness,” “Sha La La Means I Love & Glodean. Aside from the gold
playing piano on Jesse Belvin’s Nunes -- who later became White’s with another act. He wanted to You,” “September When We Met,” album The Message Is Love, most
Say the name Barry White and “Goodnight My Love.” He made his spiritual advisor and true friend work with a male artist. He made a splendid cover of Billy Joel’s “Just of the albums weren’t huge sellers.
you’d be hard pressed to follow first record when he was 16 with -- wanted to cut a female act. White three song demos of himself sing- the Way You Are”), and Love Un- After eight Barry White albums,
it with the name of any other a group called the Upfronts. The had heard about a singer named ing and playing the piano. Nunes limited’s In Heat (“I Belong to You,” four Love Unlimited albums, four
recording artist with such a huge, song was called “Little Girl” on a Felice Taylor. They had three hit re- heard them and insisted that he “Move Me No Mountain,” “Share Love Unlimited Orchestra albums,
cross-sectional following. He was local L.A. label called Lummtone cords, “It May Be Winter Outside,” re-record and release them as a a Little Love in Your Heart,” and constant touring, and dealing with
at home appearing on Soul Train, Records. Later he worked for vari- “I’m Under the Influence of Love,” recording artist. They argued for “Love’s Theme,” with lyrics). He the rigors of the music industry,
guesting with a full band on The ous independent labels around Los and “I Feel Love Coming On.” They days about it. Then he somehow also scored a soundtrack for the White decided to take a break.
Today Show, and appearing in Angeles, landing an A&R position were huge hits in England. White convinced White to do it. White 20th Century Fox film The Together Then in 1992, White signed with
cartoon form in various episodes with Bob Keane, the man respon- started making 400 dollars a week. was still hesitating up to the time Brothers, enjoying a resurgence on A&M, releasing the albums The
of The Simpsons. During the ‘70s, sible for the first pop recordings the label copy was made. He was home video. Man Is Back, The Right Night &
Dinah Shore devoted a full hour by Sam Cooke. One of his labels, When Bronco went out of business, going to use the name “White Barry White, and Put Me in Your
of her daily syndicated Dinah! Mustang, was hot at the time with White began doing independent Heat,” but the record became the His studio band included such lu- Mix (which contains a duet with
show to White. While there was a a group called the Bobby Fuller production. Those were some lean first Barry White album. That first minaries as guitarists Ray Parker, Issac Hayes, “Dark and Lovely”).
period where Barry White wasn’t Four in 1966. White was hired for times for White. Veteran arranger album was 1973’s I’ve Got So Much Jr. (pre-Raydio, co-writer with The Icon Is Love became his
releasing records or making the 40 dollars a week to do A&R for Gene Page, who would later ar- to Give on 20th Century Records. White on “You See the Trouble biggest-selling album since the ‘70s
pop charts, he did stay active tour- Keane’s family of labels: Del-Fi, range or co-arrange White’s hits, It included the title track and “I’m With Me”), bassist Nathan East, releases, going multi-platinum.
ing and appearing on other artists’ Mustang and Bronco. During this helped him out, giving him work Gonna Love You Just a Little More Wah Wah Watson, David T. Walker, It includes the platinum single
records including Quincy Jones’ time, White flirted with the idea of and non-repayable loans. Then Baby.” Dean Parks, Don Peake, bassist “Practice What You Preach.” The
“The Secret Garden (The Seduc- being a recording artist, making a three years later, Paul Politti, who Wilton Felder of the Crusaders, production lineup includes Ger-
tion Suite),” Regina Belle, and rap record for Bronco called “All in the also worked at Bronco, contacted White got a release from Uni for Lee Ritenour, drummer Ed Greene, ald Levert and Tony Nicholas, his
star Big Daddy Kane’s “All of Me.” Run of a Day.” But he chose to stick him to tell him that Larry Nunes Love Unlimited and they joined percussionist Gary Coleman, and godson Chuckii Booker, Jimmy Jam
It’s surprising to find out that such with his A&R duties. One of the was interested in starting a busi- him over at 20th Century Records. later keyboardist Rahn Coleman. and Terry Lewis, and White and his
an illustrious career almost didn’t first groups he worked with was ness with him. Nunes had started Then he had a brainstorm for His hit streak seemed, well, un- longtime friend Jack Perry. While
happen because White wasn’t in- the Versatiles who later changed cutting tracks for a concept album another concept album. He told limited. Then it all derailed. Russ some later efforts buried his vocals
terested in being a recording artist. their name to the 5th Dimension. he was working on. Meanwhile, Regan he wanted to do an instru- Regan and another ally, Hosea in whiz-bang electronic effects,
White’s first big hit came from White had started working with mental album. Regan thought he Wilson, left 20th Century Records
Born in Galveston, TX, Barry White an artist familiar to dancefloor this girl group who hadn’t done had lost it. White wanted to call and White was left with manage- on The Icon Is Love, White’s deep
grew up singing gospel songs with denizens -- Viola Wills, whose any singing professionally. They it the Love Unlimited Orchestra. ment that he thought of in less steam engine baritone pipes are
his mother and taught himself to “Lost Without the Love of My Guy” rehearsed for almost a year. White The single, “Love’s Theme,” went than glowing terms. upfront in the mix. Staying Power
play piano. Shortly after moving went Top 20 R&B. His salary went wrote “Walkin’ in the Rain (With to number one pop, was a million- followed in 1999, showcased in
from Texas to South Central Los up to 60 dollars a week. White the One I Love)” with lyrics that seller, and was a smash all over White left after fulfilling his the best tradition of soul music
Angeles, White made his record- were inspired by conversations contract with two more album re- where the focus is the singer and
started working with the Bobby the world. The song earned him a
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