Ronnie White
Ronnie White | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Ronald Anthony White |
Born | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | April 5, 1938
Died | August 26, 1995 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | (aged 57)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Years active | 1955–1995 |
Labels | Motown, Columbia Records |
Ronald Anthony White (April 5, 1938 – August 26, 1995) was an American baritone singer, best known as the co-founder of
Biography
Born in Detroit, White began his friendship with fellow Miracles co-founder
The quintet began working with
In 1966, The Miracles briefly retired from the road to work as staff songwriters and executives for the label, but returned to perform on the road the following year, in 1967.[citation needed] After Smokey and Claudette Robinson and long-time guitarist Marv Tarplin left the group in 1972, the group carried on with Billy Griffin as their new lead singer, scoring two more hits with Motown including the number-one smash, "Love Machine", before leaving Motown in 1977 for Columbia Records. The group disbanded in 1978 after Pete Moore opted for retirement and Billy Griffin returned to his solo career.
White and Bobby Rogers revived the Miracles in 1980 with Dave Finley and Carl Cotton, calling themselves "The New Miracles". This lasted until 1983, when White faced personal struggles following the death of his first wife, Earlyn Stephenson, who died from breast cancer that year. White announced a retirement shortly afterwards and the Miracles again disbanded. White and Rogers revived the Miracles again in 1993. From his marriage to Earlyn, he fathered two children, daughters Michelle Lynn and Pamela Claudette. He later fathered a son, Ronald Anthony, II. His only granddaughter, Maya Naomi, was born to Pamela after his death. White's first born daughter, Michelle, succumbed to leukemia at the age of 9. White would eventually fight his own battle with leukemia and died on August 26, 1995, at the age of 56.[4]
RRHOF controversy, The Walk of Fame, and 2012 Miracles induction
In 1987,
White was also posthumously awarded a star on the
References
- ^ "R&B: ARTISTS & MUSIC – Ronnie White Of Miracles Dies; Co-Wrote 'My Guy', 'My Girl'". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 36. September 9, 1995. p. 22.
- ^ Smokey Robinson and David Ritz, Smokey: Inside My Life.
- ^ Banks, Lacy J. (October 1971). "The Miracle of the Miracles". Ebony. Vol. XXVII, no. 12. pp. 164–172.
- The Associated Press (August 28, 1995). "Ronnie White, Songwriter, 57". The New York Times. p. B9. Archived from the originalon July 19, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
- ^ "Not in Hall of Fame News Page #1". Notinhalloffame.com.
- ^ "The Miracles: inducted in 2012 | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum". Rockhall.com. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- ^ "The Miracles". Future Rock Legends. Retrieved November 7, 2012.