Two Tributes To Barry White

By Keith Boykin, in music
Tuesday, July 8 2003, 9:48AM

I was first introduced to Barry White's sultry voice years ago as a young boy. Barry White's music rested on the mantle above the bar in our house next to Teddy Pendergrass. He was a member of the elite pantheon of great artists my father worshipped, respected or emulated.

Although I knew he had been sick for awhile, I was stunned by the news of his departure on the fourth of July. Sitting at a picnic under the trees overlooking the Hudson River, I heard a song on the radio last Friday in tribute to Barry. I loved Barry White.

Twenty years after I first fell in love with Barry White, I found myself back in love again. The first few notes on the radio of his 1994 hit "Practice What You Preach" signaled to me that Barry was back.

His CD "The Icon Is Love" transported me to a new place in music appreciation. "I Only Want To Be With You" was classic Barry. A light little rap at the beginning ("I know what I want...You're the one") followed by a desperately sexy pleading for love.

"I can't make the love
That's only for a minute
I'll be inside of you
As long as you want me in it."

Only Barry White could make simple lyrics like "Come on, come on girl/Come on, come on babe" sound so erotically poetic. Who says "babe" anymore anyway? Barry White could do it with style.

And in 1994, only Barry White would dare record an 11-minute breakup song ("Whatever We Had, We Had"). That song got me through many lonely nights after one particularly difficult breakup. Only Shirley Horn's "Where Do You Start?" has ever described a breakup as well as Barry White did with that song. After two weeks of sulking, I finally had to retire the song and go on about my life.

I love the re-invented Barry White, but it's the old classic Barry that moves me most. Accompanied by his appropriately named "Love Unlimited Orchestra," Barry White first moved my heart in 1973 when he told me "I've Got So Much Love To Give." He said he had so much to give that "it's gonna take a lifetime. It's gonna take years and years." Now that's some powerful love.

What else would we expect from the man who said in 1974, "I can't get enough of your love, babe"? In the same year, he told us, "You're the first, the last, my everything." By 1977, he was "playing your game, baby." And finally in 1999, after a remarkable career, Barry simply told us he had "staying power." That he did.

The last time I saw him in concert a few years ago at the MCI Center in Washington, he barely moved more than five feet during the entire perfomance. He spent the entire evening crooning his love songs, wiping his sweaty brow, and entertaining legions of fans. In an era of pyrotechnic stage shows with dancers and backup singers, no other artist could pull that off in concert.

I love Barry White. His music will always be a part of me.

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The Maestro Has Departed: A Tribute To Barry White
By Alicia Banks

Music is the greatest love of my life because love is only perfect within a love song. When I read Barry White’s great autobiography, I learned that he loved music for the very same reason. His life story reads like a romantic and poetic love letter to music and black women, especially his mother. I felt spiritually connected to Barry. I adore him and I will miss his spirit on earth so very much...

In 1982, I was 18 years old and a founder of radio station WBML FM at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I was also WBML’s original general manager and risque specialty show deejay. I created, produced, and hosted a sultry show called “Soulful Sounds of Ecstasy”. It featured classic love songs and erotic sensual special effects. Barry sang my appropriately smoldering theme song “Sheet Music”. I was a fan of Barry long before I was a radio star...

The first Barry song that I recall hearing as a child was his classic instrumental “Love Theme”. It was the first time I heard soul music become an actual symphony. Barry’s magic was that each of his compositions was an awesome orchestration that blended the perfect mix of symphonic melody and sexy soul. Barry was more than a musician. He was a uniquely gifted maestro.

In 1989, when I created, produced, and hosted the legendary “Les Chanteueses Africaines (The African Female Singers)” at WRFG FM in Atlanta, Barry’s renowned proteges (including his ex-wife Glodean) opened my first show with their classic vocal version of “Love Theme”. In 1992, at WIGO AM in Atlanta, on the maverick talk show that I created, produced, and hosted called “Outlook” , Barry’s music often glided me into my breaks. In 1996, I debuted “Les Chanteuses Africaines” at KPFA/KPFB/KFCF FM in California’s bay area. At KPFA, Barry’s scintillating duet with Tina Turner, “Never in Your Wildest Dreams”, was always in my rotation by request.

Barry loved African-American people and ebony women. He respected and revered black women and black love. He magically infused his music with the essence of these souful passions so expertly that anyone could feel them just by listening to his musical genius. His music moves me deeply and it always will. His timeless musical masterpieces include:

Change

It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me

Never Never Gonna Give You Up

What Am I Gonna Do With You

I’m Qualified To Satisfy You

Playing Your Game Baby

Your Sweetness Is My Weakness

and many more...

Barry took the Billy Joel classic “Just The Way You Are” to a new cosmic level. I loved Barry just the way he was. My love is eternal like the magic of his music.

I truly believe in God and in the power of prayer. I also beleve in fate. I am very happy that Barry will no longer suffer from the physical illness that he endured during his final days on earth. I wish that more of his fans had prayed for him as earnestly as they do for more recent Top 40 artists when they endure crises... I find peace in knowing that Barry was a beautiful man whose special genius and spirit now grace a superior place.

Rap music seems to have dominated the industry. Rap music highlights rhythm more than melody. Gifted composers of classic original melodies like Barry seem to be relics. I really miss real soul music. The timeless and melodious soul music that Barry created was in a symphonic class of its own.

Barry will always hold a special place in the soundtrack of my life. He lives eternally inside my radio mixes. Barry is my eternal maestro in the uniquely soulful orchestrations that will forever play in my heart and soul...

See The Maestro Has Departed: A Tribute To Barry White

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