Categories: CountryFolkMusic Calendar

July 23: Tony Joe White is 73 Happy Birthday

Tony Joe White (born July 23, 1943, Oak Grove, Louisiana, United States) is best known for his 1969 hit “Polk Salad Annie”; “Rainy Night in Georgia”, which he wrote but was first made popular by Brook Benton in 1970; and “Steamy Windows”, a hit for Tina Turner in 1989. “Polk Salad Annie” was also recorded by Elvis Presley and Tom Jones.

“Elvis’ producer Felton Jervis was a good friend of mine during the early days in Nashville. All of a sudden I released ‘Polk’ and it was a big hit single and then Felton called and invited my wife & me out to Las Vegas to see Elvis perform. He flew us out just to let us see Elvis do it live on stage! He did a good version of it, which of course he recorded for the live album. We hung out with Elvis for 2 or 3 days and just sat back in the dressing room and talked. We played a little guitar together – he really liked music. Elvis said, “Man, I feel like I wrote that song”. I said “You know, the way you do it on stage, it feels like you wrote it”. Elvis always treated me real good.”
– Tony Joe White

Here is another gem from the The Johnny Cash Show, Polk Salad Annie (w/ Johnny Cash):

Here is an interesting interview from a couple of years back, he really know how to tell stories:

Tony Joe White has parlayed his songwriting talent into a modestly successful country and rock career in Europe as well as America. Born July 23, 1943, in Goodwill, LA, White was born into a part-Cherokee family. He began working clubs in Texas during the mid-’60s and moved to Nashville by 1968. White’s 1969 debut album for Monument,Black and White, featured his Top Ten pop hit “Polk Salad Annie” and another charting single, “Roosevelt and Ira Lee (Night of the Moccasin).” That same year, Dusty Springfield reached the charts with White’s “Willie and Laura Mae Jones.” Brook Benton recorded a version of White’s “Rainy Night in Georgia” that hit number four early in 1970; the song has since become a near-standard with more than 100 credits. White’s own “Groupie Girl” began his European success with a short stay on the British charts in 1970.

– Allmusic (John Bush)

Willie & Laure Mae Jones:

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Montreux Jazz Festival 2013 (46min)