Tony Joe White

Tony Joe White reigned supreme as one of the true masters of get-down funky bluesy swamp rock music. The singer/songwriter/guitarist was born on July 23, 1943. He was the youngest of seven children who grew up on a cotton farm near Oak Grove, Louisiana. White first began performing music at school dances. Following graduation from high school Tony Joe went on to perform in night clubs in Texas and Louisiana. White went to Nashville in 1968. He had a big hit with his classic hard-stomping song "Polk Salad Annie." Tony Joe had modest country hits with "The Lady in My Life" and "We Belong Together." Brook Benton scored a substantial success with his moving and soulful rendition of White's beautiful "Rainy Night in Georgia." Among the artists who have recorded Tony Joe's songs are Dusty Springfield, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, George Jones, Hank Williams, Jr., Waylon Jennings, Jerry Reed, Jessi Colter, and Elvis Presley (the King of Rock'n'Roll sings "Polk Salad Annie" in the rock concert