| Ronald White | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ronald White |
| Born | April 5, 1939 Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Died | August 26, 1995 (aged 56) |
| Occupations | Singer, Songwriter, Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1955–1995 |
| Associated acts | The Miracles |
Ronald "Ronnie" White (5 April 1939 – 26 August 1995) was an African American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a founding member of The Miracles, and the only member to survive all of that group's line-up changes. He is also noted as the man who discovered Stevie Wonder, then White's 11-year-old neighbor, and brought him to the attention of Motown head, Berry Gordy Jr.
White was a childhood friend of fellow Miracle William "Smokey" Robinson. The pair began singing together in grade school and released a few singles while with the Miracles as a duo called Ron & Bill.[1]
White collaborated with Robinson on several of his most notable compositions, including The Temptations' "Don't Look Back" and their #1 hit "My Girl"; Marvin Gaye's Top-10 "Ain't That Peculiar"; and Mary Wells' Top-10 "You Beat Me To The Punch".
White died of leukemia In August 1995. His first wife, Earlyn, with whom he had two daughters, Michelle and Pamela, succumbed to breast cancer several years earlier. It was due to his wife's illness that he did not participate in the reunion of the Miracles on the 1983 NBC television special: Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. White was also predeceased by his first-born, Michelle, who, like him, died of leukemia. White is survived by his second wife, Gloria, daughter Pamela White English (and her daughter Maya), and son Ronnie White II.
White can be seen performing with the Miracles on the 2006 DVD release: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles:The Definitive Performances 1963-1987 and in The T.A.M.I. Show (1964).
In 1987, Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. Controversially, Ronnie White and the other original members of The Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin, Pete Moore and Claudette Robinson, were not.[2]
White was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 20 March 2009 along with the other original members of The Miracles. His second wife, Gloria, daughter Pamela, and granddaughter Maya were present. He has also been a winner of The BMI Award for Songwriting.[3]
|
||||||||||||||