Bryan White
Encyclopedia
Bryan White is an American country music
artist. Signed to Asylum Records
in 1994 at age 20, White released his self-titled debut album
that year. Both it and its follow-up, 1996's Between Now and Forever
, were certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
, and 1997's The Right Place
was certified gold. His fourth album, 1999's How Lucky I Am
, failed to produce any major singles, and he was dropped from the label's roster.
White has charted seventeen singles on the Billboard
country charts, of which four reached Number One: "Someone Else's Star
" in 1995, "Rebecca Lynn
" and "So Much for Pretending
" in 1996, and "Sittin' on Go
" in 1997. "So Much for Pretending" was the most successful of these songs, spending two weeks at Number One.
, in 1974, and raised in Oklahoma City
. Raised by a musical family, White began playing the drums
at age five through the instruction of his father. He also played in his mother's rock
band and his father's country band as a teenager, and was encouraged to take up singing after his mother heard him sing during a sound check.
During his late teens, White also sold t-shirts for the band Pearl River
, in which his friend Derek George played guitar. The band regularly let White onstage to perform a song during their concerts. He also befriended songwriter Billy Joe Walker Jr. and producer Kyle Lehning
, the latter of whom helped him sign a contract with Asylum Records
in 1994.
charts, his debut album
was released. The next single, "Look at Me Now", peaked at number 24, followed by the consecutive number 1 hits "Someone Else's Star
" (which Davis Daniel
had previously recorded) and "Rebecca Lynn
". The success of these latter two singles helped Bryan White achieve a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) for shipments of one million copies. The album included two songs which would later be singles for other artists in 1997: "Nothin' Less Than Love" (recorded by The Buffalo Club) and "Going, Going, Gone" (recorded by Neal McCoy
). Also in 1995, Sawyer Brown
charted in the Top Five with "I Don't Believe in Goodbye", a song which White co-wrote with Scotty Emerick
and Sawyer Brown lead singer Mark Miller. In 1996, White earned the Country Music Association
's Horizon Award and the Academy of Country Music
's Top Male Vocalist award.
A review in the St. Petersburg Times
said that the label "erred by releasing a novelty song as his first single" but added "the rest of Bryan White's debut album makes it clear that he has talent polish and promise."
, was released in early 1996. Its lead-off, "I'm Not Supposed to Love You Anymore
", reached number 4 on the country charts, followed by the number 1 "So Much for Pretending
", the number 15 "That's Another Song
", and his fourth and final number one hit, 1997's "Sittin' on Go
". Like his debut album, Between Now and Forever was certified platinum. That same year, Diamond Rio
charted in the Top 5 with "Imagine That", which White co-wrote with former Pearl River member Derek George and Neil Thrasher
, who was then recording on Asylum as one half of the duo Thrasher Shiver
.
Country Standard Time
reviewer Jeffrey B. Remz thought that the album sounded "pleasant" but that "White's smooth, pretty voice never really sinks into the material"
followed in 1997. Its title track, "Love Is the Right Place
", was a Top 5 hit, although later singles proved less successful. "One Small Miracle" peaked at 15, and "Bad Day to Let You Go" peaked in at 30 in 1998. The album earned a gold certification. Also in 1998, White made a guest appearance on Shania Twain
's Top Ten country and pop hit "From This Moment On" released on Shania's 1997 album Come On Over
, there are several edits of the song, both country and pop. The final single from The Right Place, "Tree of Hearts", failed to make Top 40. White followed up the album with a Christmas EP
entitled Dreaming of Christmas. He also co-wrote and sang background vocals on Lila McCann
's late 1998 single "You're Gone". Also in 1998, he was one of several artists to participate in a charity single entitled "One Heart at a Time".
, followed in 1999. Neither of its singles ("You're Still Beautiful to Me" and "God Gave Me You") reached higher than number 38, and Asylum closed its Nashville division soon afterward. The label's parent company, Warner Music Group
, issued a Greatest Hits
album in 2000 on the Warner Bros. Records
label. This album included the number 56 single "How Long", White's final chart entry. The same year, he sang several of the songs featured in the animated movie Quest for Camelot
.
In 2007, Bryan White sang the song "God of Wonders" on Time Life's Songs 4 Worship Country CD and joined a cast of other popular artists for the collaborative project "Major Rising" to benefit The Melodical Hearts Foundation, the Oklahoma Children's Research Hospital, and many other artist-supported charitable organizations. The song was released on April 5, 2008.
A new album, Dustbowl Dreams, was released on September 28, 2009. White released a new single from that album, "The Little Things", in July 2009.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist. Signed to Asylum Records
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
in 1994 at age 20, White released his self-titled debut album
Bryan White (album)
Bryan White is the self-titled debut album of American country music singer Bryan White. Released in late 1994 on Asylum Records, the album produced four singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
that year. Both it and its follow-up, 1996's Between Now and Forever
Between Now and Forever
Between Now and Forever is the second studio album by American country music artist Bryan White. It was released in 1996 on Asylum Records. Like his debut album Bryan White, it was certified platinum by the RIAA for U.S. sales of one million copies...
, were certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, and 1997's The Right Place
The Right Place
The Right Place is the third studio album by American country music artist Bryan White. It was released in 1997 on Asylum Records. The album produced four chart singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
was certified gold. His fourth album, 1999's How Lucky I Am
How Lucky I Am
How Lucky I Am is the fourth studio album released by American country music artist Bryan White. It was released in 1999 on Asylum Records. The album included two singles: "You're Still Beautiful to Me" at #39 and "God Gave Me You" at #40...
, failed to produce any major singles, and he was dropped from the label's roster.
White has charted seventeen singles on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts, of which four reached Number One: "Someone Else's Star
Someone Else's Star
"Someone Else's Star" is a country song co-written by Skip Ewing and Jim Weatherly, and first recorded by singer Davis Daniel on his 1994 album Davis Daniel. A year later, Bryan White cut the song for his self-titled debut album, and released his version as a single...
" in 1995, "Rebecca Lynn
Rebecca Lynn
"Rebecca Lynn" is the title of a song co-written by Skip Ewing and Don Sampson. It was recorded by country music singer Bryan White on his late 1994 self-titled debut album, from which it was released as the fourth and final single...
" and "So Much for Pretending
So Much for Pretending
"So Much for Pretending" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Bryan White. Released in mid-1996 as the second single from his 1996 album Between Now and Forever, the song was White's third No. 1 single — and with a pair of weeks on top , his only...
" in 1996, and "Sittin' on Go
Sittin' on Go
"Sittin' on Go" is the title of a song written by Rick Bowles and Josh Leo, and recorded by American country music singer Bryan White. Released as the fourth and final single released from his 1996 album Between Now and Forever, the song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks...
" in 1997. "So Much for Pretending" was the most successful of these songs, spending two weeks at Number One.
Early life
White was born in Lawton, OklahomaLawton, Oklahoma
The city of Lawton is the county seat of Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in the southwestern region of Oklahoma approximately southwest of Oklahoma City, it is the principal city of the Lawton Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, in 1974, and raised in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
. Raised by a musical family, White began playing the drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
at age five through the instruction of his father. He also played in his mother's rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band and his father's country band as a teenager, and was encouraged to take up singing after his mother heard him sing during a sound check.
During his late teens, White also sold t-shirts for the band Pearl River
Pearl River (band)
-Track listing:#"I Wanna Be in the Picture" - 2:46#"Hole Where the Heart Oughta Be" - 3:00#"Does She Need Me" - 3:09...
, in which his friend Derek George played guitar. The band regularly let White onstage to perform a song during their concerts. He also befriended songwriter Billy Joe Walker Jr. and producer Kyle Lehning
Kyle Lehning
Kyle Lehning is an American record producer whose work is mainly in the field of country music. He has produced virtually every album released by Randy Travis, who describes their partnership "an interesting relationship." The only exceptions are Travis' 1993 album Wind in the Wire, which was...
, the latter of whom helped him sign a contract with Asylum Records
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
in 1994.
Bryan White
White released his debut single "Eugene You Genius" in late 1994. Although it failed to reach Top 40 on the Hot Country SongsHot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts, his debut album
Bryan White (album)
Bryan White is the self-titled debut album of American country music singer Bryan White. Released in late 1994 on Asylum Records, the album produced four singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
was released. The next single, "Look at Me Now", peaked at number 24, followed by the consecutive number 1 hits "Someone Else's Star
Someone Else's Star
"Someone Else's Star" is a country song co-written by Skip Ewing and Jim Weatherly, and first recorded by singer Davis Daniel on his 1994 album Davis Daniel. A year later, Bryan White cut the song for his self-titled debut album, and released his version as a single...
" (which Davis Daniel
Davis Daniel
Robert Andrykowski is an American country music artist who records under the name Davis Daniel. Between 1991 and 1996, he recorded three studio albums on various divisions of Mercury Records: 1991's Fighting Fire with Fire, 1994's Davis Daniel, and 1995's I Know a Place...
had previously recorded) and "Rebecca Lynn
Rebecca Lynn
"Rebecca Lynn" is the title of a song co-written by Skip Ewing and Don Sampson. It was recorded by country music singer Bryan White on his late 1994 self-titled debut album, from which it was released as the fourth and final single...
". The success of these latter two singles helped Bryan White achieve a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA) for shipments of one million copies. The album included two songs which would later be singles for other artists in 1997: "Nothin' Less Than Love" (recorded by The Buffalo Club) and "Going, Going, Gone" (recorded by Neal McCoy
Neal McCoy
Hubert Neal McGaughey, Jr. is an American country music singer of mixed Irish and Filipino descent. Known professionally as Neal McCoy, he has released ten studio albums on various labels, and has released 34 singles to country radio...
). Also in 1995, Sawyer Brown
Sawyer Brown
Sawyer Brown is an American country music band founded in 1981 in Apopka, Florida, by five members of country pop singer Don King's road band: Bobby Randall and Jim Scholten , both from Midland, Michigan; Joe Smyth , Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard , and Mark Miller...
charted in the Top Five with "I Don't Believe in Goodbye", a song which White co-wrote with Scotty Emerick
Scotty Emerick
Walter Scott "Scotty" Emerick is an American country music artist, known primarily for his work with Toby Keith. In addition to penning several of Keith's singles, Emerick has also written for Sawyer Brown, George Strait and several other artists...
and Sawyer Brown lead singer Mark Miller. In 1996, White earned the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
's Horizon Award and the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
's Top Male Vocalist award.
A review in the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
said that the label "erred by releasing a novelty song as his first single" but added "the rest of Bryan White's debut album makes it clear that he has talent polish and promise."
Between Now and Forever
White's second album, Between Now and ForeverBetween Now and Forever
Between Now and Forever is the second studio album by American country music artist Bryan White. It was released in 1996 on Asylum Records. Like his debut album Bryan White, it was certified platinum by the RIAA for U.S. sales of one million copies...
, was released in early 1996. Its lead-off, "I'm Not Supposed to Love You Anymore
I'm Not Supposed to Love You Anymore
"I'm Not Supposed to Love You Anymore" is the title of a song co-written by Skip Ewing and Donny Kees, and recorded by American country music singer Bryan White on his 1996 album Between Now and Forever. It was the first single from the album and peaked at number 4 on the U.S. country chart and at...
", reached number 4 on the country charts, followed by the number 1 "So Much for Pretending
So Much for Pretending
"So Much for Pretending" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Bryan White. Released in mid-1996 as the second single from his 1996 album Between Now and Forever, the song was White's third No. 1 single — and with a pair of weeks on top , his only...
", the number 15 "That's Another Song
That's Another Song
"That's Another Song" is the title of a song recorded by American country music artist Bryan White. It was released in October 1996 as the third single from the album Between Now and Forever. The song reached number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number...
", and his fourth and final number one hit, 1997's "Sittin' on Go
Sittin' on Go
"Sittin' on Go" is the title of a song written by Rick Bowles and Josh Leo, and recorded by American country music singer Bryan White. Released as the fourth and final single released from his 1996 album Between Now and Forever, the song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks...
". Like his debut album, Between Now and Forever was certified platinum. That same year, Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio is an American Country music/Christian music band formed in 1984 in Nashville, Tennessee. Since its foundation, the group has comprised the same six members: Gene Johnson , Jimmy Olander , Brian Prout , Marty Roe , Dan Truman , and Dana Williams...
charted in the Top 5 with "Imagine That", which White co-wrote with former Pearl River member Derek George and Neil Thrasher
Neil Thrasher
Joe Neil Thrasher, Jr. is an American country music singer and songwriter. Between 1995 and 1997, he and Kelly Shiver comprised the duo Thrasher Shiver, which recorded a studio album for Asylum Records in 1996 and charted two singles on the Billboard country charts in early 1997...
, who was then recording on Asylum as one half of the duo Thrasher Shiver
Thrasher Shiver
Thrasher Shiver was an American country music duo composed of Neil Thrasher and Kelly Shiver, both of whom sang lead vocals and played acoustic guitar. In late 1996, the duo released a self-titled album for Asylum Records, and charted two singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
.
Country Standard Time
Country Standard Time
Country Standard Time is a website dedicated to country music and related genres such as Bluegrass and Rockabilly. It provides news and musical reviews pertaining to the genre. It was established in 1992 by Jeffrey B. Remz as a print magazine, which was first published only in New England but went...
reviewer Jeffrey B. Remz thought that the album sounded "pleasant" but that "White's smooth, pretty voice never really sinks into the material"
The Right Place
The Right PlaceThe Right Place
The Right Place is the third studio album by American country music artist Bryan White. It was released in 1997 on Asylum Records. The album produced four chart singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
followed in 1997. Its title track, "Love Is the Right Place
Love Is the Right Place
"Love Is the Right Place" is a country song co-written by Marcus Hummon and Tommy Sims, and recorded by singer Bryan White on his 1997 album The Right Place. It was the first single from the album and peaked at #4 on the U.S. country chart and at #3 on the Canadian country chart...
", was a Top 5 hit, although later singles proved less successful. "One Small Miracle" peaked at 15, and "Bad Day to Let You Go" peaked in at 30 in 1998. The album earned a gold certification. Also in 1998, White made a guest appearance on Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
's Top Ten country and pop hit "From This Moment On" released on Shania's 1997 album Come On Over
Come on Over (Shania Twain album)
Come On Over is the third studio album recorded by Canadian singer Shania Twain. It was released on November 4, 1997. It became the world's best-selling country music album and the best-selling studio album ever released by a female artist in any genre...
, there are several edits of the song, both country and pop. The final single from The Right Place, "Tree of Hearts", failed to make Top 40. White followed up the album with a Christmas EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
entitled Dreaming of Christmas. He also co-wrote and sang background vocals on Lila McCann
Lila McCann
Lila Elaine McCann is an American country music singer who made her debut at age sixteen with the single "Down Came a Blackbird." Reaching a peak of #28 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, the song was the first release from her 1997 album Lila, which became the highest-selling...
's late 1998 single "You're Gone". Also in 1998, he was one of several artists to participate in a charity single entitled "One Heart at a Time".
How Lucky I Am and Greatest Hits
A fourth album for Asylum, How Lucky I AmHow Lucky I Am
How Lucky I Am is the fourth studio album released by American country music artist Bryan White. It was released in 1999 on Asylum Records. The album included two singles: "You're Still Beautiful to Me" at #39 and "God Gave Me You" at #40...
, followed in 1999. Neither of its singles ("You're Still Beautiful to Me" and "God Gave Me You") reached higher than number 38, and Asylum closed its Nashville division soon afterward. The label's parent company, Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
, issued a Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Bryan White album)
Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits package released by American country music artist Bryan White. It was released in 2000 on Asylum Records...
album in 2000 on the Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
label. This album included the number 56 single "How Long", White's final chart entry. The same year, he sang several of the songs featured in the animated movie Quest for Camelot
Quest for Camelot
Quest for Camelot is a 1998 animated feature film from Warner Bros. Animation, based on the novel The King's Damosel by Vera Chapman, starring the voices of Jessalyn Gilsig, Cary Elwes, Gary Oldman, Eric Idle, Don Rickles, Jane Seymour, Pierce Brosnan, Bronson Pinchot, Jaleel White, Gabriel Byrne,...
.
2000s
Being so young and then thrust into stardom so fast ended up taking its toll on White. As White has stated, "My identity was formed by the music industry"; his career and success began defining who he was to himself. With his fourth album being less commercially successful, he started doubting himself and his talent which landed him in a deep depression, forcing him to take some time off until 2005, when he began work on another album. A second Christmas EP, My Christmas Project, followed in 2006.In 2007, Bryan White sang the song "God of Wonders" on Time Life's Songs 4 Worship Country CD and joined a cast of other popular artists for the collaborative project "Major Rising" to benefit The Melodical Hearts Foundation, the Oklahoma Children's Research Hospital, and many other artist-supported charitable organizations. The song was released on April 5, 2008.
A new album, Dustbowl Dreams, was released on September 28, 2009. White released a new single from that album, "The Little Things", in July 2009.