Josh White

Joshua Daniel White (February 11, 1914 – September 5, 1969) was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and civil rights activist. He also recorded under the names Pinewood Tom and Tippy Barton in the 1930s.

White grew up in the South during the 1920s and 1930s. He became a prominent race records artist, with a prolific output of recordings in genres including Piedmont blues, country blues, gospel music, and social protest songs. In 1931, White moved to New York, and within a decade his fame had spread widely. His repertoire expanded to include urban blues, jazz, traditional folk songs, and political protest songs, and he was in demand as an actor on radio, Broadway, and film.

However, White's anti-segregationist and international human rights political stance presented in many of his recordings and in his speeches at rallies were subsequently used by McCarthyites as a pretext for labeling him a communist to slander and harass him. From 1947 through the mid-1960s, White was caught up in the anti-communist Red Scare, and as a consequence his career suffered. Nonetheless, White's musical style would go on to influence several generations of musical artists. In 2023, he was inducted in the Blues Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 11, 1914 (Greenville), Died September 5, 1969 (Manhasset)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1942 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 70561 10-in. 3/23/1942 Baby baby Libby Holman instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70562 10-in. 3/23/1942 Hansom Winsome Johnny ; Old smokey Libby Holman instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70563 10-in. 3/23/1942 House of the risin' sun Libby Holman instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70564 10-in. 3/23/1942 When the sun goes down Libby Holman instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70565 10-in. 3/23/1942 Good mornin' blues Libby Holman instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70566 10-in. 3/23/1942 Fare Thee well Libby Holman instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 72512 10-in. 11/10/1944 Waltzin' Matilda Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72513 10-in. 11/10/1944 I gave my love a cherry Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72514 10-in. 11/10/1944 House of the rising sun Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72515 11/10/1944 Strange fruit Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72516 11/10/1944 John Henry Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72624 10-in. 12/13/1944 Lass with the delicate air Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72625 10-in. 12/13/1944 Jelly jelly Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72626 10-in. 12/13/1944 Evil hearted man Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72627 10-in. 12/13/1944 Backwater blues Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72628 10-in. 12/13/1944 Frankie and Johnnie Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72629 10-in. 12/13/1944 John Henry Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72660 10-in. 12/28/1944 Letter from the Russian front Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72661 10-in. 12/28/1944 In the dugout Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72662 10-in. 12/28/1944 Beloved comrade Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72663 10-in. 12/28/1944 Lord Randall, my son Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 72664 10-in. 12/28/1944 Johnny has gone for a soldier Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73128 10-in. 11/14/1945 I left a good deal in Mobile Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73129 10-in. 11/14/1945 Did you ever leave a woman? Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73226 10-in. 12/10/1945 Water cress Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73227 10-in. 12/10/1945 Molly Malone Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73228 10-in. 12/10/1945 I want you, I need you Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73229 10-in. 12/10/1945 Nobody knows you when you're down and out Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73466 3/26/1946 Sometime Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73467 3/26/1946 The lass with the delicate air Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73468 3/26/1946 I gave my love a cherry Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73474 3/26/1946 I gave my love a cherry Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73475 3/26/1946 Strange fruit Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73902 5/6/1947 Molly Malone Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73903 5/6/1947 Dip His finger in the water Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73904 5/6/1947 Green grass growing all around Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73905 5/6/1947 Josh and Bill's blues-1 Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Decca 73906 5/6/1947 Jim Crow Josh White instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "White, Josh," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210959.

White, Josh. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210959.

"White, Josh." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210959

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