A golden thread between Rhythm and Soul






Might oaks from the tiny acorns grow. A little patience, a little coincidence, considerable talent and an artist’s heart is that which finally constitutes the unforgettable music unleased on the world of the Pop, Gospel and Souls by Michael McWhite. We do not know it yet, because the first Maxi CD and the first complete CD including 12 titles have only just appeared on the market. Michael McWhite does not do things by half and hence there was quite a wait for his first CD, on which a number of well known musicians participated. Andraé Crouch, Gospel guru of the American continent, is one of the big names of the music world with which he can be heard on his records.
Many years passed between him first picking up a guitar, at the tender age of nine, and a chance meeting, which gave the important influences to his music. Completely unspectacularly and coincidentally he met Andraé Crouch in a public toilet in Stuttgart. They chatted and Michael got an invitation to Los Angeles, where they met six weeks later. And that was the beginning of an intensive friendship, which became for them both the an important relationship. What Michael McWhite had worked on up to then was acknowledged by top American professionals.
Michael formed his first band at 14 years of age. This band differed from all of the contemporary bands of the time, because they wrote their own arrangements and lyrics. Small successful public appearances encouraged the three band members to go on tour and to participate in different competitions from which they took home prizes time and again. For many years, the young artist appeared on the Southern German Broadcasting Corporation hit competition, as a singer and guitarist on the stage. As “Mr. Pink” he won the prize for the best self-composed song, under fierce competition. Prizes at a variety of talent competitions soon were a matter of course.

Later Michael McWhite wrote lyrics and arrangements for other well known artists, built his own studio, worked for short time as a producer and tinkered intensively on his own CD, which having undergone many transformations has now come to fruition . His music mirrors his musical integrity and not least through the meeting with Andraé Crouch his music was influenced by christianity and the expression of his lyrics obtained greater importance. The songs are love songs, they speak of the love between humans and also between humans and God. In this area, he finds his own unique musical expression. His songs combine electric and acoustic elements and merge into an interesting mixture of Rhythm and Soul. The titles which can be heard on the Maxi CD are: ”Only You“ and “That Is What Love can Do“. These are songs which challenge you to listen to the meaningful lyrics. The Maxi is a taste of the 12 titles appearing on a soon coming comprehensive CD. The master was recorded among others with Bernie Grundman in Los Angeles. In the meantime, Michael McWhite has arranged and recorded a further five songs for the next CD - Might oaks from the tiny acorns grow.

Bettina Augustin, journalist

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