Biography

Freddie White is one of Ireland's foremost contemporary singer/songwriters. A founding member of Scullion, the Fake, and the Freddie White Band, White has continued to explore new musical realms as a soloist. Hot Press praised him for his "left-field sense of humor and sophisticated lyrics," while www.findthefun.com proclaimed him "one of Ireland's prime underground eclectic performers." A native of Cobh, County Cork, White was born to a musical family; his father played piano, mandolin, concertina, and guitar and his mother sang with a jazz combo. Acquiring a guitar as a Christmas gift at the age of 13, White soon mastered the instrument, performing with a series of high school and local bands. Following his graduation, he temporarily moved to London where he sharpened his skills as a performer in the city's subway stations. Returning to Cork in 1974, White moved to Dublin a year later. Shortly after his arrival in Dublin, he joined with Philip King and Sonny Cordell to form the short-lived, trad rock band Scullion. Following the group's disbanding, he formed the Fake. Described as "one of the best Irish bands of the late '70s," the Fake recorded one single -- "Down on Main" b/w "Green Light." Together with the Freddie White Band, which he formed in 1978, White attracted international attention as the opening act for Eric Clapton's tour of England. He continued to perform as a soloist, as well. His debut solo album, Live on Tour, was recorded while touring as the opening act for Clannad. An extremely eclectic recording, the album included jazz-pop standards by Fats Waller and Jerome Kern, folk-pop tunes by Randy Newman and Guy Clark, and a unique rendition of Frank Zappa's "Po-Jama People." His second solo album, Do You Do, was released in 1981 and featured his interpretation of Zappa's "Dirty Love." With his third solo album, Long Distance Runner, released in 1985, White took his first steps as a songwriter, co-writing the hit single "Frozen Heart" with Johnny Duhan. His subsequent albums have focused on his original songs. His 1999 album, My Country, featured tunes co-written with his wife, Ann O'Sullivan, based on the poetry of her brother, the late rover/poet Don O'Sullivan. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi