20140304

The Whites celebrate 30 Years on the Grand Ole Opry Tonight

PRESCRIPTION BLUEGRASS IMAGE  -  THE WHITESThe Whites are Grand Ole Opry favorites whose hits include "You Put the Blue In Me," "If It Aint' Love" and "Pins and Needles."

This musical family features Buck White and his daughters Sharon White Skaggs and Cheryl White Warren.

Tonight's Opry schedule includes Jerry Douglas and Steve Thomas playing with the Whites and  Montgomery Gentry, Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Worsham, Bill Anderson, Greg Bates, Mandy Barnett and John Conlee.

The Whites came to Nashville in the 70's with Jerry Douglas and introduced Nashville to their unique brand of homespun harmonies.

Originally recording under the name, "The Down Home Folks", they made a steady ascent in the world of bluegrass, recording five acclaimed albums for various labels and working a busy touring schedule, even as they gained a toehold in the country music field thanks to their powerful vocals and broad repertoire. The former, in particular, attracted the attention of Emmylou Harris, who brought them in to sing on her Blue Kentucky Girl album of 1979 and then took them on the road with her as an opening act.

The early part of the 1980s brought The Whites - by then renamed to reflect their family ties - to national prominence as their simple, traditionally-rooted yet dynamic sound put them on Billboard’s country charts with a succession of Top 20 hits. Favorites like their first Top 10, “You Put The Blue In Me,” as well as “Hangin’ Around,” “Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling” and “Pins And Needles,” - the latter all produced by Sharon’s husband Ricky Skaggs (the two married in 1982) - introduced them to new audiences, culminating in their induction as members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1984.

Since then, The Whites have entertained and inspired literally millions of listeners at thousands of personal appearances with their unique sound.

Time has also brought renewed attention to Buck White’s mandolin playing; as bluegrass historian Neil V. Rosenberg recently said, “insiders have long known of his prowess,” and with his appearance on the recent Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza, a wider audience has been introduced to his masterful style and compositions.

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