Josh White, a dynamo in his own right

My wife and I attended a Ray Charles concert at the Peace Center many years ago. We were excited to listen to the master.

Imagine our surprise when a lone man, accompanied only by an acoustic guitar, no pips, Raylettes, or dancers, confidently walked center stage and just stood there for a minute.

It was clear that he didn’t hesitate because of stage fright or butterflies. This strategic pause raised anticipation. I cannot speak for others, but we certainly wondered who Josh White was.

Soon his mesmerizing performance lured us in, and we were instant fans. So much so that we wanted more of Josh White, even if it meant delaying Ray Charles for a few more sets.

He made us fall in love with his graphic storytelling, his guitar chops, and his versatile voice.  The brutal violence, like lynching and other assaults on blacks, caused his father, Josh White Jr., to flee to New York, where he became a sensation and launched the career of his son by age four.

Josh said that fleeting creativity must be captured instantly, or its memory will quickly fade.  He had one particular creative flush while he was sitting in the bathroom, so he jotted down the lyrics on a napkin. Later, he worked that poem into a song that became a hit.

The great Ray Charles graced the stage and held us in rapture to the end of the show. As much as I enjoyed both shows, still, I wondered about something.

That dichotomy lingered uneasily in my mind for days: a one-man show thoroughly entertained us for hours before the legendary Ray Charles hit the stage with backup singers, dancers, a big band, stellar singing, and awesome piano chops.

That speaks to the measure of Josh White. He takes a backseat to no one.