By: HISTORY.com Editors

1944

Singer-songwriter Barry White is born

Published: November 16, 2009Last Updated: May 27, 2025

On September 12, 1944, in Galveston, Texas, pop singer Barry White—or “the Maestro”—is born. He went on to have a stunningly successful career as a singer that spanned five decades, and made him a star of the disco era.

Having written several new songs and recorded his vocals for demo purposes only, White was surprised and reluctant when 20th Century Records pushed him to release the songs under his own name. When he finally did so in 1973, he quickly established himself as a star. From 1973 to 1977, sometimes under his own name and sometimes under the name Love Unlimited Orchestra, White recorded a string of steamy soul classics that featured his rumbling bass voice speaking and singing over lush orchestral arrangements of subject matter clearly expressed in his song titles alone: “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe”; “Your Sweetness Is My Weakness”; “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me”; and “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby.”

White died in 2003.

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Citation Information

Article title
Singer-songwriter Barry White is born
Website Name
History
Date Accessed
October 02, 2025
Publisher
A&E Television Networks
Last Updated
May 27, 2025
Original Published Date
November 16, 2009

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