Coastal Point | Singer Michael Tracy White dead at 39

Singer Michael Tracey White dead at 39

By M. Patricia Titus
Staff Reporter



	Coastal Point • FILE PHOTO Michael Tracy White recently died at the age of 39.

Musician Michael Tracey White said his favorite phrase was “Expect the unexpected.”

And it was, indeed, unexpected when the Salisbury, Md., native and perennial resort musical favorite died on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 3, from a blood-vessel hemorrhage in his esophagus.

White had just celebrated his 39th birthday on Aug. 15 and still had a typical marathon set of performances scheduled for the coming weeks, including one that night at The Shark in Ocean City. Among dozens of upcoming performances were one at Schooners in Ocean City on Thursday, Sept. 7, and another at Ocean City’s Sunfest in late September.

White is survived by his wife, Michelle, and 5-year-old son, Noah, as well as his parents.

A viewing was planned for Wednesday night, Sept. 6, with the funeral set for 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, at St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church in Salisbury.

Close friend and fellow musician Kevin Poole said on Tuesday that White had called him early Sunday morning, believing he might be suffering from food poisoning. Poole said White, a consummate professional, was hoping to find someone to fill his spot at the show scheduled for Sunday night in Ocean City.

Rushed shortly thereafter to Atlantic General Hospital in Salisbury via an ambulance that he called himself, White was treated but later died. Poole said family and friends are devastated by the sudden loss.

White reached pinnacle with memorial tune

White was best known locally for a nearly limitless array of cover material (an estimated 300 to 400 songs) from which he could pull audience favorites of any era, as well as rockabilly, swing and rock covers and originals. But he achieved his highest level of national and international recognition in 2001 with a country-influenced song inspired by the death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr., whom White had deeply admired.

In a 2001 interview, White explained that the song was inspired by his own lifelong appreciation of NASCAR in general and Earnhardt in particular. White said he had gone to NASCAR races in Dover since he was “a little kid.”

He watched a lot of television on the day Earnhardt was killed, White said, and saw that event’s impact. “It affected such a mass number of NASCAR fans. Even people who weren’t Earnhardt fans were feeling the pain of this tragedy,” White said. “And I just wanted to put something to music, put something out there for the fans.”

“Cold Day in Daytona” sold more than 22,000 units internationally and peaked at No. 9 on the independent worldwide country chart. A portion of the profits from sales were donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, inspired by the charitable contributions that Earnhardt made throughout his life.

In a 2001 interview, talking about the project, White said, “I owe it all to the fans. I realize how lucky I am.”

Shore entertainment standout

Indeed, locally, White was found performing in local bars, clubs and restaurants throughout most of the year — a standout as a full-time professional musician who had regular performances even in the depth of the resort area’s winter. He was also in demand around the East Coast, performing in mainland Maryland, upstate Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

During the summer season, it was easy to find him performing somewhere on the shore on a given night, between solo shows, duo shows with saxophonist Joe Smooth or drummers Chuck de Martin or Joe Mama, celebrations of swing with Michael and the Little Professors, and shows with the new rock band he described as a “who’s who of Maryland musicians.”

White was proud of his local roots, noting that he was born and raised in the area, and he praised the wonders of living near the beach and having different audiences to play for year-round.

A guitarist, vocalist, drummer and songwriter, he even played host at local open-mic nights, making use of a warm and congenial personality that endeared him to his audience and made him a favorite on the local entertainment scene. Honoring that place, Coconut Times named him “Ocean City’s Entertainer of the Year” for 2004-2005.

Humbly eschewing his central spotlight as bandleader for Michael and the Little Professors, White focused on the draw of the band’s unique take on that genre of music as key to their success.

“The band has built up a real nice following, probably because of the unique aspect of the show,” he said in 2001. “Nobody around here is doing that kind of music. There are some people that play jazz and some swing, but nobody does it at the energy level we do.

“And it’s a broad audience, too. There are younger people, retired people. We can do the same show at the Bay Café and on a college campus and it goes over equally well,” he added, referring to the band’s regular spot at the now-defunct bayfront hotspot.

National recognition

White was also received warmly by a number of music legends, all of whom had good things to say about his music and skill as a performer. White’s Web site (at www.michaeltraceywhite.com) reported that praise in a series of quotes.

“I loved Michael and his band. … They were the best opening act we had since the Who opened for us in ’67,” said Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits in 2004, when that band performed in Ocean City.

“Michael Tracey White’s songs are not only every bit as good but actually better than what one hears currently on radio stations that specialize in rock,” said Steve Allen, composer, author and creator of TV’s “Tonight Show,” as well as the man credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the most prolific composer in history.

“Michael’s versatility is uncompromised. … He is a great asset to the world of music,” commented Daryl Davis, keyboardist and bandleader for Chuck Berry, who has also worked with Jerry Lee Lewis, Chubby Checker, The Drifters, The Platters and The Coasters.

“I love Michael Tracey White’s work, particularly his vocals. I’d say Michael is only about two or three steps away from where he deserves to be in the music business,” said Dick O’Bitts, former manager of Don McLean and Janis Ian.

Local musicians lose comrade

Sadly, White won’t have the chance to make any more of those steps. But he will be remembered most fondly by the local musicians and music lovers who met up with up during his many performances in Ocean City and neighboring Delaware towns.

“The music community of Ocean City and Salisbury truly regrets the loss of a great friend,” Poole said of his friend and fellow musician. “What made Michael so special is it was like being on stage all night with a friend. It was just fun.”

“He was one of the most prolific musicians on the Eastern Shore that I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with — a genuinely fun and funny guy. And he will be missed,” said Alana Cook, who recorded Poole’s 2001 album “Toubadour,” on which White performed and served as co-producer.

Local roots, local connections

White started playing the drums at 7, and became a professional jazz drummer at 13, when he was given his first gig by Eastern Shore jazz legend Chris Pinter. Back in 2001, White noted that he wouldn’t have been where he was without Pinter’s help and that he had remained in touch with the now-retired musician.

White later picked up guitar on his own, along with songwriting. He received some vocal training (“classical vocal training”) while working on a journalism degree at Salisbury State University (now Salisbury University), putting himself through college playing gigs. “I’ve never had a day job,” White said. And by college, his musical style had expanded from jazz to swing and rockabilly.

With all of the renown achieved by Michael and the Little Professors, it is interesting to note that White said his own favorite venue back in 2001 was probably the one that placed him a little more out of the spotlight than the rest of his regular performances.

“I’m just your humble host,” he said then of open-mic night at the now-defunct Ryan’s Café in Ocean View, a job that let him perform solo most of the night, but also left him free to sit in on bass, guitar or drums with other local musicians.

It also gave him a good venue for interacting with his audience, which he said was probably his favorite thing about performing. He pointed out the difference between his act and that of many other swing performers: he tried to keep the energy high, both with the music and in friendly banter with his fellow musicians and the audience.

That tone also showed up in his performances with Joe Smooth, a show White described as “a different animal. A lot of people would look at it and at first glance think, ‘Oh, that’s just his solo act with a saxophone player and some backing vocals thrown in.’ But it includes comedy and a lot of interaction with the audience.”

“The funny thing is they’re all three so different, I don’t really have a favorite. I like them all because they keep my career so interesting, changing all the time,” White said.

“I’ve been branching out as a producer, too,” he added. “That’s fun. That’s a lot of fun.”

Long-lasting impact

Between producing, writing, recording and performing a solid schedule year-round, White was one of the area’s busiest musicians, hands down.

In fact, along with his schedule of performances in the Ocean City area, White had planned the release of his latest album “Singin’ Sounds for Now” for this coming fall. The exact date of release was yet to be announced, and it was unclear as of Coastal Point press time whether his death will affect those plans.

The plans that will be affected include those of the thousands of area residents and visitors who would normally have taken in one of White’s many shows in the years and decades to come. His death at 39 not only has starkly affected the lives of his family and friends but will also reverberate in its impact on the area’s music scene for the foreseeable future.

Poole said special plans to honor White and possibly assist his family are now being made by his friends and fellow musicians. The Coastal Point will follow up with information on those plans as soon as they are more concrete.