Jack White

Jack White
Name	Jack White
Caption	White performing in 2014
Birth name	John Anthony Gillis
Birth date	9 July 1975
Birth place	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor
Years active	1987–present
Spouse	Meg White (m. 1996; div. 2000), Karen Elson (m. 2005; div. 2013), Olivia Jean (m. 2022)
Associated acts	* The White Stripes * The Raconteurs * The Dead Weather * Loretta Lynn * Bob Dylan
Website	jackwhiteiii.com

Jack White is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, renowned as one of the most influential figures in 21st-century rock music. He first achieved international fame as the guitarist and vocalist for the garage rock duo The White Stripes, alongside drummer Meg White. His prolific career extends to other acclaimed bands like The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, as well as a successful solo career, establishing him as a pivotal force in the rock revival of the 2000s. White is also a noted entrepreneur and preservationist of music history through his label and business empire, Third Man Records.

Early life and education

John Anthony Gillis was born in Detroit, the youngest of ten children in a Catholic family. He showed an early interest in music, playing drums and later guitar, and was deeply influenced by the blues music of artists like Son House and Blind Willie McTell. He attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, where he studied Latin and was an apprentice in a shop specializing in upholstery, a trade that would later influence his aesthetic. After briefly considering the priesthood, he enrolled at Wayne State University but left to pursue music full-time, working as an upholsterer and performing in local garage punk bands like The Go.

Musical career

White's breakthrough came with the formation of The White Stripes in 1997, a minimalist duo with then-wife Meg White that championed a raw, garage rock and blues punk sound. The band's third album, 2001's White Blood Cells, propelled them to international fame, followed by the critically and commercially successful Elephant in 2003, featuring the iconic single "Seven Nation Army". He concurrently worked as a producer for artists like Loretta Lynn on her album Van Lear Rose, which won a Grammy Award. After The White Stripes disbanded in 2011, White focused on his other projects, forming The Raconteurs with Brendan Benson and later The Dead Weather with Alison Mosshart of The Kills. He launched his solo career with the acclaimed albums Blunderbuss (2012) and Lazaretto (2014), both debuting at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200.

Business ventures and Third Man Records

In 2001, White founded Third Man Records, initially as an independent record label to release music by The White Stripes and other Detroit acts. The venture expanded significantly in 2009 with the opening of a physical Nashville complex housing a record store, performance venue, and analog recording studio. Third Man is renowned for its commitment to vinyl and analog recording, pioneering innovations like the Third Man Vault subscription service and live direct-to-acetate recordings. The label has released works by a diverse roster including Neil Young, Tom Jones, and Insane Clown Posse, and operates pressing plants in Detroit and a flagship store in London.

Artistry and musical style

White is celebrated for his eclectic and raw musical style, which synthesizes punk rock, garage rock, alternative rock, and traditional folk and blues. His guitar work is characterized by heavy use of distortion, slide guitar techniques, and pitch-shifting effects, often played on distinctive instruments like a 1950s Kay hollowbody or a 1964 Airline Res-O-Glas. Lyrically, his songs explore themes of truth, love, and authenticity, frequently drawing on Southern Gothic imagery. A staunch advocate for analog recording and the tactile experience of vinyl records, his production philosophy emphasizes spontaneity and minimal overdubs, influencing the sound of modern rock.

Personal life

White has been married three times: first to bandmate Meg White from 1996 to 2000, then to model and musician Karen Elson from 2005 to 2013, with whom he has two children. He married musician Olivia Jean, a member of his backing band and a Third Man Records artist, in 2022. A longtime resident of Nashville, he is known for a private personal life but is an active philanthropist, supporting causes like the Water for Ishmael charity and the Library of Congress through his work with the National Recording Preservation Foundation. He is also a noted collector of folk art and historic memorabilia.

Discography

* With The White Stripes: The White Stripes (1999), De Stijl (2000), White Blood Cells (2001), Elephant (2003), Get Behind Me Satan (2005), Icky Thump (2007) * With The Raconteurs: Broken Boy Soldiers (2006), Consolers of the Lonely (2008), Help Us Stranger (2019) * With The Dead Weather: Horehound (2009), Sea of Cowards (2010), Dodge and Burn (2015) * Solo studio albums: Blunderbuss (2012), Lazaretto (2014), Boarding House Reach (2018), Fear of the Dawn (2022), Entering Heaven Alive (2022)

Category:American rock guitarists Category:American male singers Category:Record producers from Michigan