Jean White

Jean White is an accomplished singer-songwriter who performs regularly in the Door County coffee houses and resorts. She has performed with Steve Lavelle and Al Anderson. Jean has recorded her original songs on her recent CD called Jean's Songs, which can be purchased from the catalog on this website. Also see the Door County Compass interview of Jean White.

“I do music I think because it’s so much a part of who I truly am.” Jean White

Music promotion through musicTOears is working with acoustic musicians who are writing original material and finding venues for them to perform. Jean is one of a number of talented singer-songwriters who perform at some of the Door County coffee houses. Like many artists Jean’s music often keeps her going; it is a major part of her life. Jean lives in Sturgeon Bay, having moved here from Milwaukee in 1997. She has two sons, both of whom are musical, and one of them lives with her now. Jean works two jobs and performs her music at every chance she gets. I spoke with Jean about her music on June 10 in Egg Harbor. She came out with an CD in 1999 called “Jean’Songs”, and can be purchase through www.musicTOears.com or at her coffee house performances, also listed on the website.

Roger Kuhns (RK): Jean you’ve got a really good singing voice and play guitar really well, how long have you been doing this?

Jean White (JW): I got my first guitar when I was ten years old, so I’ve been playing since then. As far as writing, well, I guess I started about then too.

RK: Who are your influences?

JW: Many influences, let’s see, well I really love the early music my mother used to have on the record player, like Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. I really like Nat King Cole and Andre Previn. Certainly pop radio. My big influences later on were James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, and of course the Beatles. I like Seals & Croft, and they’ve influenced me in the Bahai faith; I met them at a conference on that in Evanston (Illinois) one time.

RK: That’s a lot of musical styles; how would you describe your own music now?

JW: Well, it isn’t rock. The rest is up for grabs. Kind of progressive folk-jazz-pop. There’s no Middle Eastern influences, I can say that. I spent a year at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee studying Jazz Guitar. That really helped my playing, and has influenced my more recent songs.

RK: Tell me about some of your past music projects and gigs, have you traveled much?

JW: Oh sure, I’ve been around the states and lived in places like Illinois, New York and Ohio, and traveled to Europe, Israel and Mexico. I did some recording in L.A. in 1990 and won a national Angel Award for children’s music called “Loving Hands”. This was through the Bahai Publishing Trust. I’ve played a lot of coffee houses and theaters in Milwaukee, and started playing in Sturgeon Bay about a year ago. There have been a lot of performances in the past. Here in Sturgeon Bay I sometimes play music with Al Anderson or Steve Lavelle.

RK: How do you like living in Door County?

JW: I really love the Door County culture for its’ arts and with all the coffee houses. It is really exciting. Door County is one of these rare places with a concentration of artistic people. I also love the chocolate! Playing at The Bridge is really great because people actually listen to the words and music. The audience is so quiet sometimes as they listen, and that’s not very common in most places where musicians play. I like this a lot.

RK: What are your aspirations in your life and music?

JW: To love and serve are my sole aspirations in life, and if music is part of that and touches peoples lives, then that’s great. I have not great desire to be famous. My music is really a map of my heart; joy and sorrow and lustiness; it’s all there. Music makes me feel most alive and connected.

RK: Do you have anything else you’d like to add?

JW: (Laughing) Well, I would like to be 5 again! I have an alter ego named Penelope who loves Dairy Queen! Oh, yes, and hire me so I don’t have to sell furniture for the rest of my life!