The Grand Ole Opry is mourning the loss of one of their own. Buck White, founding member of The Whites, passed away on January 13. 94 years old when he died, he was joined in The Whites by two of his daughters, Sharon (married to Ricky Skaggs) and Cheryl. The group became known for their distinctive family harmonies, seamlessly fusing bluegrass and country, and creating a sound that was all their own.
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With dozens of songs to their credit, in memory of the patriarch of The Whites, we list four of their best.
1. 'Send Me The Pillow You Dream On'
"Send Me The Pillow You Dream On" was The Whites first official single. Written by Hank Locklin in the 1940s, The Whites, already performing in bluegrass circles, used this song to seal their place in country music as well. The song, which was released before they had an album out, also became their first charting song.
2. 'You Put The Blue In Me'
The Whites followed "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On" with "You Put The Blue In Me." Still a relatively new act, at least in country music circles, the song, from their freshman Old Familiar Feeling album, became a Top 10 hit. It was "You Put The Blue In Me" that introduced The Whites to an entirely new era of fans, these enamored with country music.
3. 'Doing It By The Book'
"Doing It By The Book" was the title track of their gospel album, released in 1989. Although the song failed to chart, it still was one of the most meaningful releases of their career. It was "Doing It By The Book" that helped The Whites earn their first-ever award, a fan-voted Music City News Award for Best Gospel Album.
4. 'Keep On The Sunny Side'
With firm roots in bluegrass and country music, The Whites' chances of making it into the mainstream scene seemed unlikely. That may have been the case, if not for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which featured The Whites.
The trio contributed "Keep On The Sunny Side" for the film. Its inclusion earned them an entirely new generation of fans as a result. The soundtrack also won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2002.
"Keep On The Sunny Side" was once a popular hymn. The song was written in the 1800s and recorded by the Carter Family in 1928. The Whites' family harmonies made the song -- and The Whites -- a perfect addition to the film.
