Home Is Where The Music Is: A Celebration Of Miss Lavelle White

Various Artists
Home Girls Records

Miss Lavelle White is a Texas icon. She first recorded in the late 1950s for Don Robey’s Duke and Peacock labels scoring on a string of hit singles and writing songs for others, such as the classic “Lead Me On” for Bobby Bland, yet did not record a full album of her own until 1994 at the age of 65. She has influenced numerous artists, both while living in Chicago and her current home in Austin, where she held a long-time residency at Antone’s.

Like many musicians as they start to age, White found herself in assistance in order to keep a home of her own. That is where HOME stepped in. An organization started by a group of female musicians and entertainers in the Austin area aimed at providing housing and assistance to musicians in need. An all-star concert was put together for White at Antone’s, held on October 1, 2012,bringing together some of the very finest that Texas has to offer. Coming to her aid in performance were people like WC Clark, Sarah Brown, Guy Forsythe, Marcia Ball, Kaz Kazanoff, Rosie Flores, Sara Hickman, Shelley King, Ruthie Foster, Carolyn Wonderland and scores more.

The artists showcased the music of Lavelle White and many have been collected for this recording, Home Is Where The Music Is. It is certainly a blessing that somebody had the smarts to make sure this night was taped, because the performances are all incredible. There are many highlights throughout this album, including “Wootie Boogie” with Marcia Ball laying down some raucous piano alongside Emily Gimble; a stellar acoustic guitar duet between Guy Forsythe and Cindy Cashdollar on “Love In Return”; Shelley King’s fantastic rendition of “Lay Down Beside Me” that brings out that genuine R&B flavor of the 1960s with guitar mastery from Denny Freeman and Mike Schermer and outstanding horn lines from Mingo Fishtrap and Thad Scott; Ruthie Foster’s soaring voice filled with passionate energy on “Lead Me On”; and the blazing guitar and gravelly vocals of Carolyn Wonderland on “Voodoo Man.”

Closing the night was Miss Lavelle White herself letting everybody know that despite her 83 years, she can still belt out precious vocals with the best of them. The Texas Music Hall of Fame inductee takes on Eddie Floyd’s “I’ve Never Found A Man (To Love Me Like You Do),” the perfect way to sum up the night of amazing artists and music all paying tribute to one of the finest voices of the blues.

Total Time: 61:35

Introduction / A Little Bit Of This, A Little Bit Of That / Yes, I’ve Been Crying / I’m Gonna Make It / Wootie Boogie / Wrapping Up Our Love / Love In Return / Lead Me On / Voodoo Man / If I Could Only Be With You / Lay Down Beside Me / Computer Blues / Black Widow Spider / Dust My Broom / I’ve Never Found A Man (To Love Me Like You Do)