Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 39

Thread: Roland White death

  1. #1
    Hillbilly007 Gary Watkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Bristol, VA
    Posts
    121

    Default Roland White death


  2. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Gary Watkins For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI.
    Posts
    7,487

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    Just saw that too, how sad.
    I remember him after the show at the “Ark” in Ann Arbor, stayed there really late, Roland declined a beer until I said “You sure, I brought St. Pauli Girl?” The reply was
    “Well. I’ll have one of THOSE!”
    Another time my band was playing a show and doing some of the old Colonel’s tunes and he came up behind us and joined in as gentle as you please!
    He will be missed to my dying day.
    Enjoy playing with your brothers, my friend.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  4. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Timbofood For This Useful Post:


  5. #3
    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    3,320

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    How sad. RIP Roland.

  6. #4
    Administrator Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Lawrence, KS
    Posts
    3,835
    Blog Entries
    14

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    So sorry to hear this news. Rest in peace, Roland. A giant in the bluegrass world and one very great guy.

  7. The following members say thank you to Mandolin Cafe for this post:


  8. #5

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    A nice man and a wonderful musician. RIP

  9. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Posts
    206

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    A true gentleman. My goodness, really brings home how temporary we are -- physically.

  10. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Chicagoland north
    Posts
    277

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    He left us a lot of great music. Glad I got to see him a couple of times at the Frankfort Bluegrass Festival.
    I've also enjoyed many of the videos he and Diane made together. God bless them both.

  11. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Gainesville, FL
    Posts
    2,664

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    Bummer. RIP Roland.

  12. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Nashville
    Posts
    4,966

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    This is sad news. Roland was a dear friend and was a joy to be around. He was always fun to jam with and made everyone in the jam feel like they were a star. I saw the character of Roland when he played with those who were not on his level. He would hold back enough that the others in the group felt as if they were able to keep up. Not many people with his credentials were that kind. He always tried to them ymake feel as if they were as good as him. At SPBGMA one year Roland, Buck White and I were in the Gibson room before the place was open to the public. We spent an hour as Roland and Buck played what they felt like playing the way they felt like it. It was one of the most memorable “ shows” I ever saw. They played every genre you could imagine. When they got to the jazz and swing tunes they kicked it into high gear, and played one of the best shows I had ever witnessed. There were only the three of us and I went to mandolin school that day. I had the honor of working with Roland on his Gibson mandolin. I helped him design exactly what he wanted. It was actually interesting, because he didn’t want it to be special with extra fancies or finish. He was quite specific in what he wanted, and he was so excited when I gave it to him. He took it out of the case and played it. It was just like he wanted and he thanked me for several years for his mandolin. He held several workshops in our shop and was always so gracious to everyone. He was never bitten by the star bug. He was kind and gentle with everyone. I will miss my friend. I have not seen him much the last few years. I don’t get around very well and can’t get together with some of my friends I would like to, but in those times I would see Roland, he seemed excited to see me and we would talk for a bit and then do whatever we needed to do. Goodbye Roland. I will miss you my friend!
    Have a Great Day!
    Joe Vest

  13. The Following 20 Users Say Thank You to Big Joe For This Useful Post:

    + Show/Hide list of the thanked


  14. #10
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    My goodness! That is a testimonial, a commemoration for the ages. The depth of your feeling comes through loud and clear., good and strong. And oh, to have been a fly on the wall at that "show."

    I am not as conversant with Roland White's accomplishments as others have been. But I liked everything I heard him play. He had a very smooth touch, a real feel for the instrument and the music. He will be missed; he is already, very much so.

    I just wish there weren't that ? in the thread title, esp. on this day. Made me wonder. I wish it had been a joke.

    RIP, Roland White.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  15. #11
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Sugar Grove,PA
    Posts
    3,370
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    Sad another one of my favorites gone, at least we have the old records to remember what a musician!

  16. #12

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    It is a sad day.

    One of the high moments of Kaufmann Kamp was one morning when I forgot my badge to get breakfast. I ran back to the dorm. As I was coming down here was Roland White. He said "Do you want a ride?" I was in awe to get to ride to and eat breakfast with one of my musical heroes.

    Rest in peace Roland.

  17. The following members say thank you to CarlM for this post:


  18. #13

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    Roland taught at RockyGrass one year and was kind enough to give me a little private lesson. At the end of the lesson, I played "Why You Been Gone So Long" and he joined in on the harmony in the chorus. I about fell off my chair! Still makes me smile to think of that. Sitting right across from him, I couldn't tell which of his fingers was actually fretting a note. Just so efficient with his left hand. What a wonderful guy. Will never forget that. He never over played--just played what the song needed. So tasteful. A great loss.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

  19. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Don Grieser For This Useful Post:


  20. #14

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    I am so saddened to hear this news. Roland White was one of the sweetest souls I ever encountered and a friend for nearly six decades. I'll never forget hearing and meeting the "Country Boys" in the basement of Gerde's Folk City when they first played there. I will always be grateful to Roland for giving me the life-changing opportunity to take his place in the band when they played the Gaslight Cafe, the week his daughter was born in 1964. His playing was honest and true and came from the heart. Rest in peace, Roland.

  21. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Dawg For This Useful Post:


  22. #15

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    RIP

  23. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Dobe For This Useful Post:


  24. #16
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Albany NY
    Posts
    2,065

    Default R.I.P Roland White

    Roland White April 23rd, 1938, April 1, 2022

    one of the New Kentucky Colonels, played guitar with Bill Monroe, and with Lester Flatt, and as a member of the Nashville Blue Grass Band.

    its a cold day in the mandolin world.





    and so he passes into legend
    Last edited by tmsweeney; Apr-02-2022 at 5:40am.
    Stormy Morning Orchestra

    My YouTube Channel

    "Mean Old Timer, He's got grey hair, Mean Old Timer he just don't care
    Got no compassion, thinks its a sin
    All he does is sit around an play the Mandolin"

  25. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to tmsweeney For This Useful Post:


  26. #17
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    I have merged the Roland White threads.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  27. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MikeEdgerton For This Useful Post:


  28. #18
    Registered User Cary Fagan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario Canada
    Posts
    1,174

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    Roland was a lovely man. He was my instructor at the Nashville Bluegrass camp years ago, just after he'd received that new Gibson mandolin. On our breaks he put the mandolin in the trash can. Much as he loved his new instrument, I think he was trying to show us that it was a tool and not a sacred object. He was also just being funny. He was the coach for our band which played on our last night at the Station Inn and he coached me on my break. I met him again a few years later and he immediately recognized me and came to say hi--not because I'm memorable but because that's who he was. I remember his teaching was all about being efficient, finding shapes near one another, using a lot of two-finger chords, and varying up the rhythm playing.
    Cary Fagan

  29. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Cary Fagan For This Useful Post:


  30. #19
    Registered User Ken's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    In Illinois, halfway between here and there.
    Posts
    584

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    Roland was a wonderful person, a kind and unassuming human being who was able to share his knowledge of the mandolin simply and graciously. I had a workshop with him maybe 15 years ago that I still draw on for my playing. Thank you Roland.
    Peace

  31. #20
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    4,786

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    Peace to his friends and family, and, of course, to Mr. White 😔

  32. #21
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI.
    Posts
    7,487

    Default Re: R.I.P Roland White

    Quote Originally Posted by tmsweeney View Post
    Roland White April 23rd, 1938, April 1, 2022

    one of the New Kentucky Colonels, played guitar with Bill Monroe, and with Lester Flatt, and as a member of the Nashville Blue Grass Band.

    its a cold day in the mandolin world.





    and so he passes into legend
    Very fitting musical choice for him. However, I will certainly miss him.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  33. #22

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    I'm so sad Roland White is gone from this world. My mandolin playing and my relationship with my audience and "the world" might have been poorer were it not for Roland He was the first person I heard start a solo from absolutely anywhere. Before I heard him play live shows in the early 1960s, as far as I knew, a lead player started a solo where a singer would begin a verse. On the first beat or with a pickup note or two. But Roland often started earlier. Sometimes he'd start before the singer(s) were done. This was such an eye and ear opener, such a revelation to this teenage musician that more musical freedom was possible than I had realized. Later as a member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band Roland White played a variety of sounds and patterns when playing rhythm which I had never heard before in any genre.
    During the years in which I toured a lot we would cross paths from time to time and he was always... I want to say this right.... he was very much like the kid next door. Humble in a natural way. Several times we taught at the same musical camps and I watched how he corrected incorrect ideas and how he disagreed with nonsense. So gentle and matter-of-fact without a trace of admonition.

    I have met many natural story tellers in my life and I have never met anyone with more musician stories than Roland White. These were always fabulously detailed and always fascinating. And one of the qualities of his stories is that he didn't *learn* or *hear* any of them. He was there. He lived them. He'd been in so many bands and so many musical situations.

  34. The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to Jody Stecher For This Useful Post:


  35. #23

    Default Re: Roland White death

    RIP Roland

  36. #24
    Registered User rnjl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Hudson Valley, New York
    Posts
    369

    Default Re: Roland White death?

    Joe, if it it's not inappropriate to ask, I and I'd guess others would be interested in knowing exactly what Roland wanted in a custom mandolin.

    Do you remember the features or custom requests?

    Quote Originally Posted by Big Joe View Post
    I had the honor of working with Roland on his Gibson mandolin. I helped him design exactly what he wanted. It was actually interesting, because he didn’t want it to be special with extra fancies or finish. He was quite specific in what he wanted, and he was so excited when I gave it to him. He took it out of the case and played it. It was just like he wanted and he thanked me for several years for his mandolin.

  37. #25
    Registered User rnjl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Hudson Valley, New York
    Posts
    369

    Default Re: Roland White death

    For those who may be interested, Bluegrass Unlimited did a podcast with Roland in Dec 2020:

    https://www.bluegrassunlimited.com/p...-roland-white/

    Rest in peace.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •