BARRY WHITE (1944-2003) : A Friend Goes Home...
(Written July 4th, 2003)
My friend Barry went home this morning. God sure has a funny way of celebrating Independence Day, doesn't he? I Guess He upstairs needed a Maestro with a unique blend of classical orchestrated musical know-how and sensuous soul.
I met him at very young age, seven or eight to be precise, around 1973, when he was at the height of his powers. My mother would dim the lights to the living room, put on his music, and chill to the sounds of his deep, velvet voice while sipping on a beer or two. Introducing me to his distinct sound, one song she kept putting the needle back over and over again to listen to was "I've Got So Much To Give." Little did I know, those eight minutes and fourteen seconds would be the anthem of my life.
God, my friend made so much good music over the years. Right Now, as I type this, "I'm Never Ever Gonna Give You Up." plays on my computer. Moms told me I would be making love to his music when I grew up. She was so right. Does anyone besides me own the 9 minute version of "The Secret Garden", the song made with Al B. Sure, James Ingram and El Debarge, the Quincy Jones produced extravaganza? The last two and a half minutes of this creation, Barry lets Fly.
"Take it Off," this man of portly and musical stature demanded in Love Serenade, wanting his queen in the suit she entered the world in. Man, I wish the so called- balladeers of today could take a pen and study his genius. It's not about what you say you can do to a woman in lyrics, song, music and voice, it's in how the seduction of the performance is conducted that drives her wild. A deeply romantic man, Barry White knew how. There's no better music than Love Makin' Music, and it seems to me he did it better than most. Man, if he and Marvin Gaye had ever collaborated on some stuff, the black population in the world would have increased by ten.
Even when he went uptempo, it was ecstasy when he laid the track down next to me. Ever let loose on a dance floor to "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness"? If you can make it through to nine minutes, then we can hang. Somehow, he did more justice to Billy Joel's "I Love You Just The Way You Are," than the creator did. Sho You Right!!! I Couldn't Get Enough Of His Love when he told me to Beware, and Practice What I Preached.
(Written July 4th, 2003)
My friend Barry went home this morning. God sure has a funny way of celebrating Independence Day, doesn't he? I Guess He upstairs needed a Maestro with a unique blend of classical orchestrated musical know-how and sensuous soul.
I met him at very young age, seven or eight to be precise, around 1973, when he was at the height of his powers. My mother would dim the lights to the living room, put on his music, and chill to the sounds of his deep, velvet voice while sipping on a beer or two. Introducing me to his distinct sound, one song she kept putting the needle back over and over again to listen to was "I've Got So Much To Give." Little did I know, those eight minutes and fourteen seconds would be the anthem of my life.
God, my friend made so much good music over the years. Right Now, as I type this, "I'm Never Ever Gonna Give You Up." plays on my computer. Moms told me I would be making love to his music when I grew up. She was so right. Does anyone besides me own the 9 minute version of "The Secret Garden", the song made with Al B. Sure, James Ingram and El Debarge, the Quincy Jones produced extravaganza? The last two and a half minutes of this creation, Barry lets Fly.
"Take it Off," this man of portly and musical stature demanded in Love Serenade, wanting his queen in the suit she entered the world in. Man, I wish the so called- balladeers of today could take a pen and study his genius. It's not about what you say you can do to a woman in lyrics, song, music and voice, it's in how the seduction of the performance is conducted that drives her wild. A deeply romantic man, Barry White knew how. There's no better music than Love Makin' Music, and it seems to me he did it better than most. Man, if he and Marvin Gaye had ever collaborated on some stuff, the black population in the world would have increased by ten.
Even when he went uptempo, it was ecstasy when he laid the track down next to me. Ever let loose on a dance floor to "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness"? If you can make it through to nine minutes, then we can hang. Somehow, he did more justice to Billy Joel's "I Love You Just The Way You Are," than the creator did. Sho You Right!!! I Couldn't Get Enough Of His Love when he told me to Beware, and Practice What I Preached.
Damn, I would give a limb to hear him lead the Love Unlimited Orchestra once more here on earth, for he had some so much to give, still. But while the journey with my friend has been brief, I rejoice that he is home, in a better place. All of our lives have been enriched because he shared his with us.
Rest in Peace, Barry
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