Barry White was one of those musicians who stepped to the mic with a powerful and unforgettable smooth sound that turned women on. Being too young myself, I watched my mom snap her fingers and roll her hips in slow motion with her eyes closed enough times to know why we weren’t avid church-goers. My mama was fast.

I didn’t take the latter from her ’cause my daddy was slow, which left me somewhere in the middle. However, her love for music became mine.

Barry didn’t move too much around the stage with all that dancing and whatnot. He didn’t even have to rip his shirt off the way we see now. The sound of his voice was more than enough. Young fellas these days could learn a lot from him.

Barry was a big fella and his voice was even bigger. He had bass like none other and was keenly aware that he moved women to a dreamy state of such a voice whispering in their ear. In an interview, he stated a lot of folk came to him and said they conceived listening to him. I would surmise that to say his voice was like the sound of God in the lovemaking department. Didn’t they both create at the sound of their voice? Alright then.

With few exceptions, the vulnerability in his lyrics ain’t all that common in today’s music. Barry gave men courage, while women felt hope and protection.  Barry, my unknowing friends, was tender and sweet talking, yet invitingly seductive. He could just talk and have women passing out or removing an article of clothing. He still is the real deal when it comes to love music and the R&B sound.

To round this off, Barry was seasoned in the industry and a very conscious man. He put out there what up and coming artists needed to thrive in the music industry and we can only hope those who heard him listened.

Rest in Love, Mr. Sweet Talkin’ Barry White.