Roland White
Encyclopedia
Roland White is an American bluegrass music
artist, performing principally on the mandolin
.
) and his sister (Joanne) into a bluegrass band which performed locally. When the family moved to California, the group won a talent show on a local radio station, after which a television station hired them (minus Joanne) as The Country Boys.
After a two-year US Army enlistment, White re-joined the Country Boys, now re-named The Kentucky Colonels
. In 1967, he had the opportunity to join the Blue Grass Boys, the backup band of his childhood idol Bill Monroe
. He stayed with that group until 1969, when he joined the Nashville Grass, the backup band of Lester Flatt
. White stayed with Flatt until 1973, when he, Clarence and Eric re-united as The New Kentucky Colonels. This only lasted a few months; he and Clarence were struck by an automobile as they loaded their equipment into their car after a performance. Roland White suffered a dislocated shoulder, but Clarence died in the accident.
White then joined another bluegrass group Country Gazette, remaining there for 13 years. In 1987, he joined the Nashville Bluegrass Band
, staying with that group until 2000. After that he formed the Roland White Band, which is still active as of August 2007.
White is a noted mandolin teacher who gives many workshops and private lessons and has published book/CD instruction sets.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
artist, performing principally on the mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
.
Biography
At an early age, White formed himself, his two brothers (Eric and ClarenceClarence White
Clarence White was a guitar player for Nashville West, The Byrds, Muleskinner, and the Kentucky Colonels. His parents were Acadians from New Brunswick, Canada...
) and his sister (Joanne) into a bluegrass band which performed locally. When the family moved to California, the group won a talent show on a local radio station, after which a television station hired them (minus Joanne) as The Country Boys.
After a two-year US Army enlistment, White re-joined the Country Boys, now re-named The Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels (band)
The Kentucky Colonels was a popular bluegrass band in the 1960s. They included Clarence White, later with The Byrds.-History:The White brothers started out as the Country Boys in 1954, with their brother Eric. With the addition of Latham, Mack and Sloane, and Roger Bush replacing Eric, they changed...
. In 1967, he had the opportunity to join the Blue Grass Boys, the backup band of his childhood idol Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
. He stayed with that group until 1969, when he joined the Nashville Grass, the backup band of Lester Flatt
Lester Flatt
Lester Raymond Flatt was a bluegrass musician and guitarist and mandolinist, best known for his membership in the Bluegrass duo The Foggy Mountain Boys, also known as "Flatt and Scruggs," with banjo picker Earl Scruggs. Flatt's career spanned multiple decades; besides his work with Scruggs, he...
. White stayed with Flatt until 1973, when he, Clarence and Eric re-united as The New Kentucky Colonels. This only lasted a few months; he and Clarence were struck by an automobile as they loaded their equipment into their car after a performance. Roland White suffered a dislocated shoulder, but Clarence died in the accident.
White then joined another bluegrass group Country Gazette, remaining there for 13 years. In 1987, he joined the Nashville Bluegrass Band
Nashville Bluegrass Band
The Nashville Bluegrass Band is an American bluegrass music ensemble founded in 1984.The group's members first played together in 1984 as a backing band for Vernon Oxford and Minnie Pearl; each of the members were established musicians from the Nashville bluegrass community. They signed to Rounder...
, staying with that group until 2000. After that he formed the Roland White Band, which is still active as of August 2007.
White is a noted mandolin teacher who gives many workshops and private lessons and has published book/CD instruction sets.