Danny White (July 6, 1931 – January 5, 1996) was an influential R&B singer and bandleader who worked in the New Orleans area.

[1] Joseph Daniel White was born at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, the youngest of seven children.

He recounted his first appearance fronting a band, "We used to go to this club called the Offshore Lounge to listen to music.

"I got to know a lot of musicians, so me and a guy called Jack decided to start a small band that worked weekends.

The band's appearances on Friday and Saturday nights brought in big white audiences, enough that the club was expanded from 700 to 1000 capacity.

White hired new musicians, putting together a six-piece band called the Cavaliers after the cigarettes he smoked.

[1] In November 1956 Huey "Piano" Smith took White to Jackson, Mississippi to meet Ace records owner Johnny Vincent.

[3] White and the Cavaliers left the Golden Cadillac, and began appearing regularly at the Safari club on Chef Menteur Highway and the Dream Room on Canal Street.

"[7] White's guitarist Irving Banister said, "Danny's records could have been bigger if he was on a national label, and we could’ve toured.

"[4] White's saxophone player John Payne had a second gig at the Sho Bar on Bourbon Street.

"I talked with the (Sho Bar) club owner, Sam Anselmo, and gave him my card", White remembered.

In the early 1950s Louis Prima was a regular attraction there with his fourth wife, singer Keely Smith.

By the early 1960s some of the city's top R&B acts performed at the Sho Bar, including Danny White and the Cavaliers, Ernie K-Doe, and King Floyd.

[8] New Orleans R&B legend Irma Thomas spoke of the part segregation played in black musicians' careers.

"[1] He recalled, "I thought it might be better suited for us to find a different medium, a vocal style more similar to the singing of Danny White, who was very popular in N.O.

White told author Jeff Hannusch he was approached by Connie LaRocca, who had just started Frisco Records with her partner WYLD DJ Hal Atkins.

The Rouzan Sisters, Laura, Barbara, and Wanda, made their first recording singing back-up on the song.

He sells it with warmth, and he can sing.”[13] White failed to follow up the success of "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" with two more Frisco singles.

[14] The next disc White recorded, "Loan Me Your Handkerchief", a song written by Earl King, was leased by Frisco to ABC-Paramount for national distribution.

This Wardell Quezergue-produced record, featuring Irving Banister on guitar and Mac Rebennack on piano,[15] sold more than 100,000 copies, rising to the top of the local charts.

White and the Cavaliers toured with artists such as Jimmy Reed, Otis Redding, and Marvin Gaye.

Danny White's sessions were moved to Memphis, where he was produced by Isaac Hayes and David Porter.

[4] White remembered, "Hal Atkins was transferred to WDIA up in Memphis and he got to know Jim Stewart, Booker T, and the gang around Stax.

"[3] Hayes and Porter had yet to establish themselves as premier Stax producers so White's first recordings were made at Royal Studios with the musicians who would become the Hi Rhythm Section, including Mabon "Teenie" Hodges on guitar, Howard Grimes on drums, and the Memphis Horns.

It gained popularity in U.K. discotheques, prompting British label Sue Records to issue it in the U.K., but failed to chart there.

The discs, including a remake of "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" had airplay in New Orleans and select other urban areas, though not enough to hit the charts.

[2] Integration, lack of successful record sales, and the British Invasion led White to disband the Cavaliers in 1966.