Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Morris Ellis “Fruit” White was born January 17, 1911 in Nashville, Tennessee and grew up in Peoria, Illinois. During the 1920s he played with Charlie Creath, Dewey Jackson, and Ethel Waters before joining The Missourians in 1928.
In 1930, Cab Calloway became the leader of the ensemble, with White becoming one of his most important sidemen. He remained with Calloway’s band until 1938. He played with Lionel Hampton in 1941, then left the music industry for good.
Banjoist and guitarist Morris White passed away In November 1986.