White is one of the main composers of the Zombies' music, and made major lyrical contributions to the band's songs.

The family soon relocated to Markyate, Hertfordshire, where his parents Harold and Nan White owned the village general store, selling groceries, hardware, paint, and furniture.

As a pastime, Harold White played double bass in dance bands performing the music of Glenn Miller and other swing bands; he gave his son his earliest musical training, playing guitar alongside White on the ukulele.

[4] White replaced the Zombies' initial bass guitarist, Paul Arnold,[5] and became one of the band's two main songwriters, alongside Rod Argent.

For the Zombies' performances in the 1965 film Bunny Lake Is Missing White wrote "Nothing's Changed" and "Remember You".

White also contributed lead vocals to "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)" and a verse of "Brief Candles".

[12] Chris and his wife Vivienne Boucherat provide backing vocals on the 2016 album My Religion by John Verity.