Clarence White

Clarence White was a gifted guitarist who was one of the pioneers of country-rock in the late '60s. Although died young, his work with The Byrds and The Kentucky Colonels, among others, remained celebrated among country-rock and bluegrass aficionados in the decades following his death.



Born in Maine but raised in California, White began playing the guitar at an early age, joining his brothers' band, The Country Boys, when he was just ten years old. The band eventually evolved into The Kentucky Colonels. Clarence left The Colonels in the mid-'60s, becoming a session musician; he played electric guitar on many rock and pop albums. He also began playing with the duo of Gib Gilbeau and Gene Parsons in local California clubs. Gilbeau and Parsons frequently worked with The Gosdin Brothers, so the duo was able to land a cameo appearance for White on the Gene Clark With The Gosdin Brothers album. Around the same time, Clarence recorded a solo album for Bakersfield International which the label didn't release.

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