fbpx
Wikipedia

Lee "Lasses" White

January 17, 2023

Leroy Robert White (August 28, 1888 – December 16, 1949), better known as Lee "Lasses" White or Leroy (sometimes Le Roy or Lee Roy) "Lasses" White, was an American vaudeville pianist, songwriter and entertainer who became an actor of the stage, screen and radio. He became famous doing minstrel shows during the early part of the 1900s, and wrote one of the first copyrighted twelve-bar blues, "Nigger Blues". After spending some time on radio, White entered the film industry in the late 1930s. During his eleven-year career he appeared in over 70 films.

Lee "Lasses" White
Screen capture of White
Born
Leroy Robert White

(1888-08-28)August 28, 1888
Wills Point, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 16, 1949(1949-12-16) (aged 61)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
Other namesLasses White
Leroy "Lasses" White
Lee Roy White
Occupation(s)Actor, songwriter, pianist, comic entertainer
Years activec.1905–1949
SpouseNorma White[1]

Life and career

Leroy Robert White was born on August 28, 1888, in Wills Point, Texas.[2] He gained the nickname "Lasses" as a child because of his love of molasses.[2] By the age of 12, after his father's death, he was living in Dallas with his mother and siblings, and by about 1905 had started to make a name for himself working in minstrel shows, such as the A.G. Fields Minstrels, and vaudeville.[3][4] In 1912, he wrote one of the first blues songs ever published, "The Negro Blues", popularized as "Nigger Blues" and known more recently as "Lasses' Blues".[2][5] Its lyrics became a standard blues form used in the 1920s and '30s.[6]

In 1912 he started a vaudeville troupe with partner Frank Hughes, and two years later joined a larger minstrel show run by George "Honey Boy" Evans, as a singer and comic entertainer. By 1916, after Evans' death, White had taken over the leadership of the company, renamed it Lasses White and his Southern Sunflowers, and toured widely. As a 'blackface' entertainer[7] he also performed in several other minstrel shows, notably Al G. Field's Greater Minstrels, while continuing his songwriting. In 1920 he formed Lasses White's All Star Minstrels, a group of about 50 performers.[2] In the mid 1920s he formed part of a duo with "Honey" Wilds, to whom White gave the nickname as a complement to his own, Lasses.[8] In 1932 White hosted his own Friday night radio program on WSM.[9] In 1934, White & Wilds were given a contract to work at the Grand Ole Opry, where they remained until 1939,[8] having one of the most popular programs at the Opry.[10] Their routine included both songs and dialogues that parodied and satirized the growing commercialism in the United States, particularly in the South.[9]

In 1939 White, along with Wilds and their friend Chill Wills went to Hollywood to enter the film industry.[8] His first role was as a shopkeeper in the Gene Autry western Rovin' Tumbleweeds.[11] While both he and Wills remained in Hollywood, Wilds returned to Nashville.[8] In the early 1940s, White became one of two sidekicks in a series of westerns starring Tim Holt at RKO. He replaced Emmett Lynn, who had been one of Holt's dual sidekicks in the first four films Holt did at RKO. White, in the role of Whopper Hatch, worked on the next eight Holt oaters at Radio during 1941–42.[12] At the same time, White was also a regular in the Scattergood Baines films, playing Ed Potts, the husband of the town gossip.[3] He also appeared in other films during this period, including such notable ones as 1941's biopic Sergeant York, starring Gary Cooper.[13]

White died on December 16, 1949, in Hollywood, California, of leukemia.[14] He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.[15]

Filmography

(Per AFI database)[16]

References

  1. ^ "Saddle Pals and Cowboy Sidekicks".
  2. ^ a b c d Bill Edwards, "Leroy Robert (Lee Roy) "Lasses" White", RagPiano.com. Retrieved 9 February 2019
  3. ^ a b Wollstein, Hans J. "Lee "Lasses" White, biography". AllMovie. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  4. ^ Kyriakoudes, Louis M. The Grand Ole Opry and the Urban South. p. 77.
  5. ^ Gracyk, Tim (2000). Popular American Recording Pioneers: 1895-1925. New York: Routledge. p. 43.
  6. ^ Carlin, Richard (2002). Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary. New York: Routledge. p. 224.
  7. ^ Craig Havighurst (5 November 2007). Air Castle of the South: WSM and the Making of Music City. University of Illinois Press. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-252-03257-8.
  8. ^ a b c d Ankeny, Jason. "Honey Wilds, Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Kyriakoudes, Louis M. The Grand Ole Opry and the Urban South. p. 78.
  10. ^ Kyriakoudes, Louis M. The Grand Ole Opry and the Urban South. p. 75.
  11. ^ "Rovin' Tumbleweeds: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  12. ^ "Tim Holt". The Old Corral. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  13. ^ Eagan, Daniel (2012). America's Film Legacy. New York: A&C Black. p. 334. ISBN 978-0826429773.
  14. ^ "Famed Minstrel Dies". Medford Mail Tribune. 16 Dec 1949. p. 1. Retrieved 20 December 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Billboard
  16. ^ "Lee "Lasses" White". American Film Institute. Retrieved December 20, 2015.

External links

January 17, 2023
lasses, white, leroy, robert, white, august, 1888, december, 1949, better, known, leroy, sometimes, lasses, white, american, vaudeville, pianist, songwriter, entertainer, became, actor, stage, screen, radio, became, famous, doing, minstrel, shows, during, earl. Leroy Robert White August 28 1888 December 16 1949 better known as Lee Lasses White or Leroy sometimes Le Roy or Lee Roy Lasses White was an American vaudeville pianist songwriter and entertainer who became an actor of the stage screen and radio He became famous doing minstrel shows during the early part of the 1900s and wrote one of the first copyrighted twelve bar blues Nigger Blues After spending some time on radio White entered the film industry in the late 1930s During his eleven year career he appeared in over 70 films Lee Lasses WhiteScreen capture of WhiteBornLeroy Robert White 1888 08 28 August 28 1888Wills Point Texas U S DiedDecember 16 1949 1949 12 16 aged 61 Hollywood California U S Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale Other namesLasses WhiteLeroy Lasses WhiteLee Roy WhiteOccupation s Actor songwriter pianist comic entertainerYears activec 1905 1949SpouseNorma White 1 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Filmography 3 References 4 External linksLife and career EditLeroy Robert White was born on August 28 1888 in Wills Point Texas 2 He gained the nickname Lasses as a child because of his love of molasses 2 By the age of 12 after his father s death he was living in Dallas with his mother and siblings and by about 1905 had started to make a name for himself working in minstrel shows such as the A G Fields Minstrels and vaudeville 3 4 In 1912 he wrote one of the first blues songs ever published The Negro Blues popularized as Nigger Blues and known more recently as Lasses Blues 2 5 Its lyrics became a standard blues form used in the 1920s and 30s 6 In 1912 he started a vaudeville troupe with partner Frank Hughes and two years later joined a larger minstrel show run by George Honey Boy Evans as a singer and comic entertainer By 1916 after Evans death White had taken over the leadership of the company renamed it Lasses White and his Southern Sunflowers and toured widely As a blackface entertainer 7 he also performed in several other minstrel shows notably Al G Field s Greater Minstrels while continuing his songwriting In 1920 he formed Lasses White s All Star Minstrels a group of about 50 performers 2 In the mid 1920s he formed part of a duo with Honey Wilds to whom White gave the nickname as a complement to his own Lasses 8 In 1932 White hosted his own Friday night radio program on WSM 9 In 1934 White amp Wilds were given a contract to work at the Grand Ole Opry where they remained until 1939 8 having one of the most popular programs at the Opry 10 Their routine included both songs and dialogues that parodied and satirized the growing commercialism in the United States particularly in the South 9 In 1939 White along with Wilds and their friend Chill Wills went to Hollywood to enter the film industry 8 His first role was as a shopkeeper in the Gene Autry western Rovin Tumbleweeds 11 While both he and Wills remained in Hollywood Wilds returned to Nashville 8 In the early 1940s White became one of two sidekicks in a series of westerns starring Tim Holt at RKO He replaced Emmett Lynn who had been one of Holt s dual sidekicks in the first four films Holt did at RKO White in the role of Whopper Hatch worked on the next eight Holt oaters at Radio during 1941 42 12 At the same time White was also a regular in the Scattergood Baines films playing Ed Potts the husband of the town gossip 3 He also appeared in other films during this period including such notable ones as 1941 s biopic Sergeant York starring Gary Cooper 13 White died on December 16 1949 in Hollywood California of leukemia 14 He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale California 15 Filmography Edit Per AFI database 16 Midnight Club 1933 Trailin West 1936 Grandpa Goes to Town 1940 If I Had My Way 1940 Oklahoma Renegades 1940 The Bandit Trail 1941 Come on Danger 1941 Cyclone on Horseback 1941 Dude Cowboy 1941 Scattergood Baines 1941 Scattergood Pulls the Strings 1941 Sergeant York 1941 Luke Target Keeper uncredited Six Gun Gold 1941 The Round Up 1941 Thundering Hoofs 1942 You Can t Escape Forever 1942 The Talk of the Town 1942 Land of the Open Range 1942 Riding the Wind 1942 Cinderella Swings It 1943 Klondike Kate 1943 The Unknown Guest 1943 Minstrel Man 1944 The Adventures of Mark Twain 1944 Alaska 1944 Song of the Range 1944 When Strangers Marry 1944 Dillinger 1945 The Lonesome Trail 1945 Saddle Serenade 1945 Springtime in Texas 1945 West of the Alamo 1946 Fear 1946 Moon Over Montana 1946 Song of the Sierras 1946 Suspense 1946 Trail to Mexico 1946 Ginger 1946 Rainbow Over the Rockies 1947 Cheyenne 1947 Louisiana 1947 Magic Town 1947 Six Gun Serenade 1947 Song of the Wasteland 1947 The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap 1947 The Trouble with Women 1947 The Babe Ruth Story 1948 The Dude Goes West 1948 The Golden Eye 1948 Indian Agent 1948 The Lawton Story 1949 Mississippi Rhythm 1949 Red Rock Outlaw 1949 The Valiant Hombre 1949 Please Believe Me 1950 The Texan Meets Calamity Jane 1950 References Edit Saddle Pals and Cowboy Sidekicks a b c d Bill Edwards Leroy Robert Lee Roy Lasses White RagPiano com Retrieved 9 February 2019 a b Wollstein Hans J Lee Lasses White biography AllMovie Retrieved December 20 2015 Kyriakoudes Louis M The Grand Ole Opry and the Urban South p 77 Gracyk Tim 2000 Popular American Recording Pioneers 1895 1925 New York Routledge p 43 Carlin Richard 2002 Country Music A Biographical Dictionary New York Routledge p 224 Craig Havighurst 5 November 2007 Air Castle of the South WSM and the Making of Music City University of Illinois Press p 49 ISBN 978 0 252 03257 8 a b c d Ankeny Jason Honey Wilds Artist Biography AllMusic Retrieved December 20 2015 a b Kyriakoudes Louis M The Grand Ole Opry and the Urban South p 78 Kyriakoudes Louis M The Grand Ole Opry and the Urban South p 75 Rovin Tumbleweeds Detail View American Film Institute Retrieved December 20 2015 Tim Holt The Old Corral Retrieved December 20 2015 Eagan Daniel 2012 America s Film Legacy New York A amp C Black p 334 ISBN 978 0826429773 Famed Minstrel Dies Medford Mail Tribune 16 Dec 1949 p 1 Retrieved 20 December 2015 via Newspapers com Billboard Lee Lasses White American Film Institute Retrieved December 20 2015 External links EditLee Lasses White at IMDb Lee Lasses White at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lee 22Lasses 22 White amp oldid 1132072780, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.