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Carla White

Carla White
Birth nameCarla Ruth White
Born(1951-09-15)September 15, 1951
Oakland, California, U.S.
DiedMay 9, 2007(2007-05-09) (aged 55)
New York City
GenresJazz
OccupationSinger
Years active1980–2007
LabelsStash, Milestone, Evidence, Vartan, Jazz Cats, DIW, Bright Moon Records

Carla Ruth White (September 15, 1951 – May 9, 2007) was an American jazz vocalist.

Biography

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White was born in Oakland, California and raised in Bellport, New York.[1] Her father, Dwain, was also born in Oakland and worked as an airline pilot.[2] Her mother, Rosa, was born in Indiana and served on several artistic foundation boards later in her life.[3]  Her parents divorced early in White’s life, though when they divorced is unclear; her mother was married to physicist Frederick Ayer from 1966 until his death. White’s siblings, Penny and Miles, predeceased her.[4]

Though she began dancing at an early age, White decided to pursue jazz dance after a friend introduced her to jazz as a teenager.[1] She began dancing and acting at the Northwestern University dance and drama camp over the course of two summers, and spent her final year of high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where she studied theater. She moved to London in 1969 to attend Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. She dropped out before finishing the degree in order to pursue singing; she then spent a short period traveling and busking through Europe and North Africa.

She returned to New York City and took music lessons intermittently during the 1970s with Lennie Tristano and Warne Marsh.[5] In 1979 she met trumpeter Manny Duran, who became her mentor. They formed the White-Duran Band and recorded the album Andruline for Stash.[5] White died from cancer on May 9, 2007, in New York.[5][4]

Personal life

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White was the niece of Broadway costume designer Miles White.[6][2]

Discography

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As leader/co-leader

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Dates recorded Title Label Year Released Notes
March 21-22, 1983 Andruline Stash 1984 Co-leader with Manny Duran (trumpet). Recorded with Ed Howard (bass), Peter Madsen (piano), and Taro Okamoto (drums).
December 20, 1985

April 25-27 1986

Orient Express Milestone 1987 Recorded with Peter Barshay (bass), Manny Duran (trumpet, "The Man with the Trumpet"), Ed Howard (bass), Tim Horner (drums), Jeremy Kahn (piano), and Peter Madsen (piano). Recorded “Orient Express” and “ I’ll Remember April” with Kahn and Barshay on December 20, 1985. White wrote the tracks "Orient Express" and "Snowbound."
April 4-6, 1988 Mood Swings Milestone 1988 Recorded with Peter Madsen (piano), Phil Bowler (bass), Tim Horner (drums), Lew Tabackin (tenor saxophone, flute), and Joshua Breakstone (guitar).
September 4-5, 1991 Listen Here Evidence 1995 Recorded with Lew Tabackin (tenor saxophone, alto flute) Peter Madsen (piano) Dean Johnson (Bass) Lewis Nash (drums). Madsen composed "Dream" using the poetry of Langston Hughes.
October 29, 1994 In Mexico Jazz Cat 2000 Recorded with Roberto Aymes (contra bass, musical direction), Fernando Toussaint (drums) , and Luis Zepeda (piano).
April 21-22 1995[7] Live at Vartan Jazz Vartan Jazz 1998 Recorded with Jerry Hahn (guitar), Joe LaBarbera (drums), Mark Soskin (piano), and Harvie Swartz (bass). Liner notes mistakenly state that this album was recorded in 1996.
July 26-27, 1996 The Sweetest Sounds DIW 2000 Recorded with Steve Berrios (percussion), Dean Johnson (bass), Peter Madsen (piano), Tom Rainey (drums), and Lew Tabackin (tenor saxophone). White wrote the track "But I Was Wrong."
September 8-9, 2001 A Voice in the Night Bright Moon Records 2005 Recorded with John Hart (guitar), Dean Johnson (bass), Claudio Roditi (trumpet, flugelhorn), and Matt Wilson (drums). White wrote the track "Peace of Mind."

Other recordings

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Album Year Notes
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Original Soundtrack 2001 White featured on credits track "Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday," composed by Rika Muranaka. Recorded with Onaje Allan Gumbs (piano), Don Braden (saxophone), Robin Eubanks (trombone), Kenny Davis (bass), Eugene Jackson (drums), and the Felix Farrar Orchestra.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Carla White Biography." 1992. White, Carla. The Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ.
  2. ^ a b "Dwain Houston White Obituary". New York Times. New York. September 16, 1984. p. 44.
  3. ^ "Rosa Ayer Obituary (2009) - Seattle, WA - The Seattle Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
  4. ^ a b "Carla White Obituary". The Seattle Times Obituaries. May 20, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Yanow, Scott (2008). The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide. Backbeat. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-87930-825-4.
  6. ^ "Paid Death Notice: WHITE, MILES". New York Times, Late Edition. New York: New York Times Company. February 20, 2000. p. 49.
  7. ^ Provizer, Norman (April 20, 1995). "Country Club Hosts Pianist Grant". Rocky Mountain News. pp. 14D.
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