Clarence White

Written by Administrator on Wednesday, 02 September 2009

Probably best known for his stint playing guitar in The Byrds, Clarence White started his musical life with his brothers Roland and Eric Jr. in The Three Little Country Boys, a bluegrass outfit. Based in Bakersfield, California, the brothers played a regular slot on a local radio programme. Found and admired by fast pickin’ country star Joe Maphis, they recorded their first single and made a number of TV appearances. They later morphed into The Kentucky Colonels in 1962.

Bluegrass, however, was no longer selling so Clarence packed his bags, moved to LA and became a session player (you can hear him on some early Monkees sessions).

Moving towards (and developing) Country Rock, he played some stints in Nashville West, the International Submarine Band and the Flying Burrito Brothers, making friends with the likes of Gram and Gene Parsons (whom, I’m sure you’re aware, are not related).

White ended up contributing his much-copied ‘twang’ to The Notorious Byrd Brothers, and then Sweetheart of The Rodeo. The Byrds, with Clarence on board, were later to disband – and then reform again - until finally laid to rest in 1973.

As an acoustic player, White went a long way to inventing bluegrass guitar as a lead, picking instrument (previously it was strictly for rhythm). His Martin D 28 (which has an enlarged soundhole, as he wore it out) is now owned by bluegrass hot picker number 1, Tony Rice.

On the electric side, he and fellow Byrd Gene Parsons invented the Parsons White B Bender. Wanting to emulate the sounds of pedal steel, they chopped out the body of White’s Fender Telecaster and rigged up a large spring device that would lift the b string by a whole tone when tugged (especially useful in bending to major thirds and sixths in A and E shape bar chords…instant country!) Marty White now owns this original ‘doctored’ 1954 telecaster.

I’m happy to say that when I had a technical question about my b bender (where do I oil to get rid of that squeak?) my email was answered by none other than Gene Parsons himself…now there’s service.

Tragically, White was killed by a drunk driver in 1974. Gram Parsons, who was in attendance at the funeral, led the chorus of Farther Along in tribute to his old road comrade. He also wrote In My Hour of Darkness (Gram’s final tune) in tribute to Clarence. It’s also rumoured that White’s funeral provided the inspiration for Parsons’ wish for a dessert burial.

Clarence, this twang’s for you.

Video

Clarence bends with The Byrds (and I bet he didn't get this kind of crowd in his bluegrass days)