White was born Mary Agnes Hoskins, in St. Alban's, Bay d'Espoir, on the southeast coast of what was then the Dominion of Newfoundland.
She was introduced to music by her father, Samuel Hoskins, who played mouth organ, fiddle and accordion.
White composed and arranged music, hired backing bands, and performed on accordion and mandolin.
She recorded four albums, including Newfoundland Accordion & Mandolin Favourites (1974), Homestead Reels (1978) and The Hills of Home (1994).
[1] In 1994 she was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council Hall of Honour, and in 1995 nominated for Instrumental Artist of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards.