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Barry White has been satisfying soul music lovers for nearly 25 years. Inspired in the 60s by the likes of Holland-Dozier-Holland and The Supremes, Barry's original vision was to write, arrange, and produce music for an all-girl group. In that he succeeded, compiling Love Unlimited, a three-girl group featuring his future wife, Glodean. Led by Glodean's soaring vocals, Love Unlimited's 1972 debut album, From a Girl's Point of View We Give to You, went gold, and included a #14 Billboard single, "Walkin' in the Rain with the One I Love."
Convinced by others of his own singing talent, Barry decided to give it a go himself in front of the microphone. His debut album, I've Got So Much to Give," lived up to its title and went gold, and featured a #3 Billboard single, "I'm Gonna Love Ya Just a Little More, Baby." Using his early success as a springboard, Barry ventured into what were at that time uncharted waters. His lifelong dream had been to write and produce soul music for a full orchestra. The higher-ups at his record label, 20th Century Fox, were skeptical. Soul music -- for an orchestra? After some convincing, however, the Love Unlimited Orchestra was a reality. It's debut album, Rhapsody in White, went gold off the strength of a #1 Billboard single called "Love's Theme." Parlaying his continued success, B arry went on to record several more gold albums, including Stone Gon', Just Another Way to Say I Love You, Barry White Sings for Someone You Love, The Man, and Can't Get Enough, which featured a #2 Billboard single, "You're the First, the Last, My Everything," and his second #1 Billboard single and fan anthem, "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe."
After closing out the 70s having produced 22 albums and scored hit singles such as, "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me" and "Let the Music Play," Barry took 18 months off to rest in 1983. The disco era having faded from prominence and a new mixture of soul and rap having taken its place, Barry found himself a fish-out-of-water with the then-contemporary music scene. Mixing his traditional soft-souled sound with the signs of the times, he returned to the charts in the mid-80s, however, with hits such as, "I Wanna Do It Good to Ya," and "Sho You Right. Barry continues to write and produce remarkably chart-worthy sound. His latest successes, "Come On" and "Practice What You Preach," which landed at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart, combine his early 70s groove sound with a 90s emphasis on lyrics and vocals.
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Velvet-voiced singer Barry White, the two-time Grammy winner who inspired millions to get in the mood with such hits as "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," died Friday, his manager told CNN. He was 58.
The crooner died at 9:35 a.m. (12:35 p.m. EDT) at Cedars Sinai Hospital, said White's manager since 1973, Ned Shankman. He was alone when he died.
"It was just a series of things brought on by his high blood pressure, which triggered kidney failure and a mild stroke and ongoing low-grade infections that they just couldn't get on top of," Shankman said.
White had been on dialysis, but had been doing some studio work.
"He had a most unique voice, a most unique appearance," Shankman said. "He was just a very unique guy."
Once, he said, researchers played his music to whales. "It absolutely made them mate more," he said.
The singer's bass, sultry tones graced such hits as "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" and "You're My First, My Last, My Everything."
White, his songs sensual, was the love machine to millions of fans.
His biggest hits came during the disco days of the 1970s, with hits like, "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Baby," which he referred to as "my anthem."
During the 1980s and 1990s, he converted subsequent generations into admirers, too.
White credited the fact that he wrote and produced the songs, and worked long and hard, for his staying power.
"I sleep music, I eat music, I'm never without it, I'm never without music, that's my first lady," he once told a reporter.
White insisted he was a homebody, happiest in the studio he had built in his house. "I am passionate, I am romantic, I am thrilled throughout my soul to be creating music," he said.
White, who married and divorced twice, leaves eight children.
Barry White's last words on his death bed were, "Leave me alone - I'm fine".
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