Bryan
White was born and raised in Lawton/Fort Sill, Oklahoma to a musical
family. His parents and grandparents were musicians and singers.
Growing up he listened to all kinds of music. His parents played in
cover bands and, thanks to his father, he learned to play drums while
he was still very young. He recalls that it came naturally to him and
he became so good at the drums that his parents frequently invited him
to play with them. Since their bands played all different styles of
music, White feels it gave him a great perspective and helped to make
him the diverse artist that he is today. Although country music has
his heart, he loves and respects all kinds of musical expression.
One thing White never tires of mentioning is the day he heard the
music of his musical mentor, Steve Wariner. “People
talk about defining moments. For me, this was definitely one of them.
I heard Steve’s voice and I immediately gravitated toward his tone and
phrasing. I knew right then, at the age of fourteen, what I wanted to
do with my life.” Fresh out of high school White says he packed up his
guitar, drum sticks, angst, dreams, five hundred dollars and headed to
Nashville to pursue a career in country music.
The move proved to be beneficial. He charted seventeen singles on
Billboard's Country Charts, had six number one
singles, two platinum records, two gold records, he joined forces with
Shania Twain and together they took “From This Moment
On” all the way up to number four on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart.
He has garnered several awards for himself, including a Grammy,
a CMA Horizon Award, and an ACM Top Male
Vocalist award among them. And, with his songwriting, he
helped several other artists climb the charts; Sawyer Brown
and Diamond Rio both got in the top five with songs
co-written by White and Wynonna, Joe Diffie,
LeAnn Rimes and Lila McCann all
recorded songs he co-wrote. The accolades led him to various TV
appearances such as "The Tonight Show," "Late
Night With David Letterman,” NBC's "The Today Show,"
and “CBS This Morning.” However, despite all of his
music successes, it is an award from outside of the music arena that
is probably the best indicator of who White really is; People
Magazine named him one of their “fifty most beautiful
people” in the world and everyone who knows him finds it easy
to understand why.
White says he has always been grateful for all he’s been given
throughout the years but now looking back in retrospect, he is more
grateful than he’s ever been before. "To gain notoriety for doing
something that's second nature has always amazed me," he says. "It's
incredible that I've gotten to work with so many of the people who've
influenced me. It still blows my mind."
White took some time off to get away from the craziness of the music
business and to start a family. "After a decade of building my career
and being on the road so much, I was spent, mentally and physically,"
he says. "I knew, I needed to get away and take some time to breathe
and do some of the other things I had always dreamed of." He did just
that by marrying the beautiful actress Erika Page
(One Life To Live) and bringing sons Justin and Jackson into the
world.
When asked how his life has changed during his break from the
industry, White responds, “I found my true identity, not only as an
artist and a songwriter, but as a human being. I realize now that life
is an incredible gift and it’s meant to be lived on purpose. Music is
a gift and a great vehicle but it’s really about what happens beyond
the music for me. What kind of legacy did I leave as a husband, as a
father, and a friend?”
White has just completed his eighth studio album entitled
Dustbowl Dreams. It is a sonic sensation infused with
stories about real life, coupled with pocket-grooves, rootsy acoustic
parts, soaring pop-country melodies, and a passionate and energetic
delivery that reaches into your soul touching on subject matter we all
can relate to, But the underlying theme is never forgetting your
roots; which, for White, is his Oklahoma pride. “The song 'Dustbowl
Dreams' was inspired by my pride as an Oklahoman, my fascination with
my lineage and history, and identifying with the grit, soul, and
spirit of Oklahomans, especially during the Great American Dustbowl. I
love to think of myself as a product of their perseverance. Dustbowl
Dreams is, in essence, the American dream.”
When asked what he hopes to accomplish with this new album, he smiles
confidently and says, “I’ve already swung the bat hard and put the
ball out of the park. I have nothing left to prove but I have a lot
more to say.” Inspired by his ancestors, his heritage, and pride, he
is determined to once again make an impact with his music and use his
platform for the greater good. Never forgetting his stellar past, he
looks ahead with confidence, determination, and much anticipation to a
future filled with more dreams...
Dustbowl Dreams. |
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Visit
Bryan White
www.BryanWhite.com
www.myspace.com/bryanwhite |
