Barry Eugene Carter was born on 12 September 1944, in Galveston, Texas, USA. He was a singer, songwriter and composer best known for his distinct bass-baritone voice heard in songs such as “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything”. He released numerous albums and won multiple awards throughout his career. All his efforts helped raise his net worth to where it was prior to his passing in July 2003.
How rich was Barry White? As of mid-2016, sources estimate a net worth that was at $20 million, mostly earned through a successful career in the music industry; he achieved 41 platinum albums and 65 gold albums. He also had 10 platinum and 20 gold singles, achieving worldwide sales of over 100 million copies. All of these are proof of the wealth he’d built-up throughout his life.
Barry White Net Worth $20 Million
When Barry was young, he often listened to the classical music collection of his mother and it inspired him to learn to play the piano. When he was 14 years old, his voice suddenly deepened, and this would be the start of his signature productions. That musical career was still far away however, as Barry became involved in a clash with a rival gang that killed his brother. He was jailed for stealing $30,000 worth of Cadillac tires at the age of 16, but then he decided to change his life after listening to “It’s Now or Never” by Elvis Presley.
After his jail sentence, he started to pursue a musical career in the 1960s, releasing “Too Far to Turn Around” as a member of The Upfronts. He then worked for various small time labels, and recorded several songs with vocal groups such as the Atlantics and the Majestics. He also started to write and arrange songs, helping discover Felice Taylor. In 1972, he discovered the group Love Unlimited, and helped them create the album “From A Girl’s Point of View We Give to You… Love Unlimited”, which would sell a million copies and White would start to gain recognition as a producer and songwriter. He then released “Walkin’ in the Rain with the One I Love” which reached #6 on the Billboard R&B chart. Afterwards, Barry decided to work as a solo artist and started to make demos until he wrote an entire album. This album would become “I’ve Got So Much to Give”, which included the hit “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby”. He continued with multiple chart-topping hits such as “What Am I Gonna Do with You” and “Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up”. His net worth was well established.
He then created The Love Unilimited Orchestra in 1972, a group who was originally going to be a backing band for Love Unlimited. Eventually, Barry used the group for the single “Love’s Theme”, and then in 1974, they created their first album “Rhapsody in White”. He would continue to make albums with the Orchestra including “Midnight Groove”, “My Sweet Summer Suite” and “Satin Soul”. He left 20th Century in 1979, and created his own label called Unlimited Gold. Around this point in time, disco songs were starting to decline though he still maintained a large following, and was able to chart with the song “Change” released in 1982. After four years with his label, he signed with A&M Records, releasing “The Right Night & Barry White”. This along with the album “The Man is Back” would contain a few songs that reached the Billboard R&B Chart.
In the 1990s, his popularity resurfaced and he would release multiple albums once more including “The Icon Is Love”, and “Staying Power”.
Aside from music, White also did voice overs for television and movies. These include commercials, and even a guest appearance in “The Simpsons”.
For his personal life, he was married to Betty Smith(1962-65) and then to Glodean James the lead singer of Love Unlimited, from 1974 until his passing. White suffered health problems associated with being over weight for most of his life, including high blood pressure and later kidney problems which resulted in consistent dialysis treatments. In 2003, he suffered a stroke and retired from public appearances, and a few months later he would pass away at the age of 58.
