Roland White
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roland White (b. April 23, 1938 Madawaska, Maine) is an American bluegrass music artist, performing principally on the mandolin.
[edit] Biography
At an early age, he formed himself, his two brothers (Eric and Clarence) and his sister (Joanne) into a bluegrass band which performed locally. When the family moved to California, the group won a talent show on a local radio station, after which a television station hired them (minus Joanne) as the "Country Kids".
After a two-year US Army enlistment, White joined another professional bluegrass group, "Kentucky Colonels". In 1967, he had the opportunity to join the "Blue Grass Boys", the backup band of his childhood idol Bill Monroe. He stayed with that group until 1969, when he joined the "Nashville Grass", the backup band of Lester Flatt. He stayed there until 1973, when he and Clarence decided to form their own group called the "New Kentucky Colonels". This only lasted a few months; he and Clarence were struck by an automobile as they loaded their equipment into their car after a performance. Roland was slightly injured, but Clarence died in the accident.
White then joined another bluegrass group "Country Gazette", remaining there for 13 years. In 1987, he joined the "Nashville Bluegrass Band", staying with that group until 2000. After that he formed the "Roland White Band", which is still active as of August 2007.
White is a noted mandolin teacher, having written and published several teaching manuals.
