Bukka White
| Booker White | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Booker T. Washington White |
| Born |
November 12, 1909 Between Aberdeen and Houston, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | February 26, 1977 (aged 67) Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Genres | Delta blues, country blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, guitarist, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, steel guitar, fiddle, piano |
| Years active | Late 1920s–1977 |
Booker T. Washington "Bukka" White (November 12, 1909 – February 26, 1977) was an African-American Delta blues guitarist and singer. "Bukka" is a phonetic spelling of White's first name, placed on the labels of his early recordings. He preferred the proper spelling of his name, "Booker," as he was named after the well-known African-American educator and civil rights activist Booker T. Washington.
White was born south of Houston, Mississippi. He was a first cousin of B.B. King's mother (White's mother and King's grandmother were sisters). He is remembered as a player of National resonator guitars. He also played piano, but less adeptly. He typically played slide guitar, in an open tuning. He was one of the few, along with Skip James, to use a crossnote tuning in E minor, which he may have learned, as James did, from Henry Stuckey.
White started his career playing the fiddle at square dances. He claimed to have met Charlie Patton soon after, but some have doubted this recollection. Nonetheless, Patton was a strong influence on White.
He first recorded for Victor Records in 1930. His recordings for Victor, like those of many other bluesmen, included country blues and gospel music. Victor published his photograph in 1930. His gospel songs were done in the style of Blind Willie Johnson, with a female singer accentuating the last phrase of each line.
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