The White family
The White family is a family living in rural Boone County, West Virginia. The family has a reputation for anti-social behavior, and, indeed, some members of the family are quite proud of it. The family, especially Jesco, is infamous in Boone County, but celebrated by some.[1] The family was introduced in the documentary film The Dancing Outlaw, which starred family member Jesco White as the son of famous mountain dancer D. Ray White.
The family
Mountain dancer Donald Ray White (1927–1985), known as D. Ray White, was the family patriarch and grew up Boone County. He was profiled as a famous mountain dancer on a PBS special titled Talking Feet.[2] He married Bertie Mae White circa 1950 and had thirteen children in under 20 years. Before his murder, D. Ray White was known as one of the greatest mountain dancers in the United States.[2] His style, along with Jesco's, is a subtle mix of tap and clog dancing that is native to Appalachia.
Films
The family, except for D. Ray (who was murdered in 1985), was featured in the 1991 PBS Special film The Dancing Outlaw. This chronicled son Jesco's abilities as a mountain dancer, like D. Ray's. The film was directed by Jacob Young. Bertie Mae White, also known as "The Miracle Woman", was captured in a song of the same title along with Jesco as it outlines the PBS Special.
Young created a second film The Dancing Outlaw 2: Jesco Goes Hollywood in 1994. This featured Jesco White as he was cast in a Roseanne episode as Dan's mountain clogger cousin. These scenes were later deleted from the show.
Jesco was featured in the 2009 film It Came from Trafalgar, also starring Jesco's favorite musician Hank Williams III.
In 2008-2009, Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass production team, Dickhouse Productions, made a film The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. The crew stayed with the family during this year, filming over 500 hours of footage. The film was screened at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009.[3] In 2009, the movie White Lightnin' was made. It is a docudrama directed by Dominic Murphy.
Other work
Jesco has been linked to many popular artists through song. Big and Rich mention his name in their single "Comin' to Your City," although Jesco is not a fan and feels as if they are capitalizing on his name. Hank Williams III wrote the song "Legend of D. Ray White," which honors the cultural significance of Bertie Mae's husband. It also mentions Jesco, as well as another legendary Boone County artist, Hasil Adkins, and Jesco's sister Mamie White. Jesco also dances on the Hank Williams III song "Louisiana Stripes."
In January 2011, Jesco teamed up with singer/songwriter Tanner Flowers to write his very own biography song "The Dancing Outlaw". The song speaks of Jesco's birth in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, his rise to fame, his historic encounters with country music legend Hank Williams Jr, Hank Williams III, Roger Alan Wade, and his famous skit on The Roseanne Arnold Show. The Dancing Outlaw also affirms Jesco's infatuations with Elvis Presley and the notorious Charles Manson. The song is currently available to be heard on YouTube.
Family members
This list is incomplete. Living children and living adults who have not engaged in notable behavior are not included.
- Donald Ray (D. Ray) White (April 17, 1927 – July 2, 1985) - One of the United States's most famous Mountain Dancers.[2] Married to Bertie Mae. Murdered in 1985.
- Bertie Mae White (February 23, 1924 – June 1, 2008) - The matriarch of the family. D. Ray's wife. She survived most of her children, eventually dying from heart problems in 2008.
- D. Ray and Bertie Mae White had 13 children:
- Ona Fontaine White (August 15, 1951 - May 27, 1971) - The daughter of D. Ray and Bertie. She was killed by her ex-husband in Cleveland.
- Minis Ray White (September 8, 1954 - December 22, 1954) - D. Ray and Bertie Mae's son; died as an infant.
- Mamie White (1954-) - Nicknamed "The Biggest" in the trio of "The Biggest, The Meanest, and the Baddest." Mamie is the oldest surviving child of D. Ray and Bertie Mae White. She lives in Gordon, West Virginia, near Jesco. She was married to Billy Hastings, the man who started the fight that killed D. Ray White. She is now known as "Mamie Warner."
- Mousie White (1973–present) - The daughter of Mamie White.
- Jesco White (July 30, 1956-present) - Jesco is the "Dancing Outlaw" and the son of D. Ray White and Bertie Mae White. He was married to Norma Jean White.
- Norma Jean White (1939–2009) - Jesco's wife. She died on October 22, 2009.
- Dorsey Ray White (December 21, 1963 - March 14, 1987) - Jesco and Mamie's brother. Shot during the fight with Billy Hastings and D. Ray White. Later killed himself unintentionally with a gun.
- Roberta Fontaine White (August 15, 1959 - October 8, 1978) - The daughter of D. Ray and Bertie Mae. She has died.
- Donald Mairs White (September 13, 1961 - May 7, 1987) - The son of D. Ray and Bertie Mae.
- Bernadine "Bo" White (1962–present) - Jesco's sister. She is divorced and lives near the family. She is the mother of Kirk White and Derek White.
- Susan Rae "Kirk" White (March 15, 1975 – present) - Bo's daughter. Her father was imprisoned for a double homicide.
- Derek Castle (1987–present) - Bo's son. He lives in Bim, West Virginia.
- Virginia A White (December 21, 1963 – October 15, 1978) - D. Ray and Bertie Mae's daughter. She was killed in a car accident while pregnant.
- Jerry Pontosa "Poney" White (196?-present) - D. Ray and Bertie Mae's son. He moved to Minnesota to seek better opportunities and works as a housepainter. Featured in "The Dancing Outlaw" film.
- Billy R White (196?-deceased before 2008) - D. Ray and Bertie Mae's son. He has died.
- Sue "Bob" Ann White (1969–present) - D. Ray and Bertie Mae's daughter. Lives in West Virginia with daughter, Ashley. Is the mother of Brandon White from a previous marriage. She was jailed shortly after the film about the family was completed.
- Brandon Poe (1986–present) - Sue Bob's son. Sentenced to 50 years in prison (eligible for parole after 25) for shooting Mamie White's boyfriend in the face and having a shootout with the police.
References
- ^ The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, a documentary film directed by Julien Nitzberg, 2009
- ^ a b c Talking Feet: Solo Shern Dance - Flatfoot, Buck and Tap documentary film by Mike Seeger and others, 1 hour and 27 minutes, color, Smithsonian Folkways, Smithsonian Institution 3/4 tape (1987); DVD region 1 (U.S. and Canada only) (April 24, 2007)
- ^ Brad McElhinny. "Buzz is big for new Jesco White movie", Charleston Daily Mail, 2009-4-27. Retrieved on 2009-4-29.
External links and further reading
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