Byron Bay Festival
A country singer and songwriter, White was also tagged with the label 'swamp rock', a musical genre he helped to create. Originally he was a member of Tony And The Mojos before defecting to Texas to start Tony And The Twilights. He started recording in 1968 and many people presumed he was black after hearing his layered vocals. He had his first hit single on Monument with 'Polk Salad Annie' in 1969, later covered by Elvis Presley.
Also contained on his debut Black And White (1969) was 'Willie And Laura Mae Jones', which was covered by Dusty Springfield. After succeeding once more with 'Groupie Girl', he wrote 'Rainy Night In Georgia', which became a standard. His first three albums were produced by Billy Swan, and Cozy Powell drummed for him at the 1970 Isle Of Wight festival.
He moved to Warner Brothers Records in 1971 and had a hit in 1979 with 'Mama Don't Let Your Cowboys Grow Up To Be Babies'. White co-wrote 'Steamy Windows' with Tina Turner, which gave her a Top 20 UK hit in 1990. Other artists to enjoy hits with White's material include Joe Cocker, Etta James, Isaac Hayes, The Cruel Sea, Roy Orbison, Kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams Jr., Emmylou Harris and even The King himself, Elvis Presley.
White is an artist who refuses to compromise; however, his most recent albums - The Path of A Decent Groove (1993) and Lake Placid Blues (1995) - indicate a man totally at peace with himself. It might be difficult to understand how a person who has written so many hits for others and who has established such a formidable reputation could find himself with those two albums not available in his home country. But Tony Joe likes to do things his own way and he just could not find the right sort of record deal.
However, Tony Joe's latest album 'One Hot July', has recently been released in Australia and, for the first time in many years he will also fand a simultaneous American release.
Special Edition:
10th Annual East Coast Blues &
Roots Music festival
(Australian Music Magazine).
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