With his unmistakeable deep voice and his irreplaceable lyrics, Barry White who died on 4 July 2003, provided the seventies with an epic collection of smooth soulful seduction.

Despite not being able to read or write music, Mr White was a prolific producer, songwriter and singer and sold over 100 million records worldwide in his legendary career.

With songs such as ‘You’re the first, my last, my everything’ and ‘Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe,’ White sung about what he believed in the most…Love.

Affectionately referred to by his fans as ‘The Man with the Velvet Voice’ or ‘Maestro,’ Mr White summarised his own music best when he said “as long as people are making love, they’re going to need a great love song.”

He was born Barrence Eugene Carter on 12 September, 1944, in Ga lveston, Texas, and grew up in the high- crime South Park neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

Partners-in-crime with his younger brother Darryl who was murdered in a rival gang clash, Mr White’s background did not always match the theme of his later songs.

At 17 years old he was jailed for stealing $30 000 worth of Cadillac tyres.

After spending seven months in jail, White turned his back on gang-life and decided to pursue a musical career.

Mr White had always been brought up in a musical background and was taught to harmonise by his mother at a very young age.

By the 1960s he had already recorded several songs, but his first big break was backing the singing trio ‘Love Unlimited,’ with the ‘Love Unlimited Orchestra’ which he too created.

For the next two years, Mr White arranged, produced and wrote classic soul ballads for Love Unlimited including the 1972 huge hit ‘Walking in the Rain with the One I love’ where White’s trademark deep voice talk-over was heard for the first time.

Love Unlimited soon got signed by 20 th Century Records and their songs continued to make huge hits throughout the 1970’s.

By 1973 he had released his first solo number one chart hit ‘I’m gonna love you just a little more baby.’

This song paved the way for 30 years more of huge chart successes including ‘Never Never Gonna Give You Up’ and ‘What Am I Gonna Do With You’

In October 1974 he married the lead singer of Love Unlimited, Glodean James and the two became the hippest couple in show business.

Although Mr White’s success slowed down a little in the 1980’s, he still maintained loyal and enthusiastic follwers throughout his entire career.

In the 1990s mr White was rediscovered and he won his first Grammy award with his album ‘Staying Power’ (1999).

He had been ill with chronic high blood pressure for some time and his declining health inevitably resulted in him having a stroke.

But nonetheless he still lives on today as being one of the greatest soul singers that the world has ever seen. His pure rich voice exemplifying the quote perfectly “if chocolate cake could sing, it would sound like Barry White.”