Romantics everywhere are in mourning this week after the charismatic crooner Barry White died in Los Angeles. The singer, whose deep vocals made him a favourite with "all the lovers out there", suffered a stroke in May and was awaiting a kidney transplant.
The soul legend first topped the charts in the 1970s, but he enjoyed consistent sales figures and his popularity resurged in the 1990s. Over the course of his career Barry sold more than 100 million records, despite not being able to read or write music. And the use of his hit songs in the series Ally McBeal also helped to boost his profile in recent years.
Barry's voice, which has been compared to "rich, dark chocolate fudge cake, with a generous helping of whipped cream", was credited as being the most sensual in the music industry. Indeed his ability to get people "in the mood for lurrve" was so effective that he was mentioned in a US Senate report on the 1970s baby boom.
"There was no match for Barry White. His music is just going to live forever, it's not limited to disco or soul or hip-hop or anything," said US soul guru Don Cornelius. "Love was a very important aspect of his life - he wasn't just singing for your mate and your bedroom, he was singing and writing for his own bedroom."
Often dubbed "the Walrus of Love", in reference to his 17-stone frame, Barry himself had a troubled love-life, however. His first marriage was dissolved and his second ended in separation. The singer, who grew up on the mean streets of south central Los Angeles, is survived by two sons and five daughters. He was 58 years old.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
