Barry White (The deep-voiced Walrus of Love) Suffers Stroke

Yahoo! News / E! ^ | 5.16.03 | Marcus Errico

[mhking]

Barry White Suffers Stroke

By Marcus Errico

Barry White's baritone pipes have provided the soundtrack for many a make-out session over the past four decades. Now, comes word the deep-voiced funkster has suffered a stroke that has impaired his speech.

It's the latest health woe for the 58-year-old soul man, who announced last fall that he needs a kidney transplant after years of battling high blood pressure.

Speaking at a press conference in Los Angeles Friday, White's daughter, Shaheara, said her father suffered the stroke while undergoing dialysis treatment for his kidney failure.

"My dad had surgery May 1 to place a catheter in his arm," she told reporters, according to wire reports. "He had a stroke...that affected his speech and the right side of his body, but he is in great spirits."

But she also insisted that the stroke was "a minor setback," adding, "have no fear, he'll be fine. He will definitely be performing again."

The singer, who has been ailing since 1999, needs to be stablilized before he can receive his new kidney, his daughter said.

Known for warbling such get-it-on hits as "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," "You're the First, the Last, My Everything," "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness," "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me," "I'm Gonna Love You, Just a Little More Baby" and "Love's Theme," White has chalked up 106 gold and 41 platinum albums, 20 gold and 10 platinum singles and worldwide sales in excess of 100 million.

White won his first two Grammys (news - web sites) for his last studio album, 1999's Staying Power. He boasts an illustrious musical track record. All that and he saved Springfield on The Simpsons (news - Y! TV), using his trademark vocals to solve the town's serpent problem.

In happier news, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to rename a recreation center in the city's South Park neighborhood after White, who was born in Texas but grew up in the area.

[mhking]

I'm truly sorry to hear this one....

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[randog]

Barry's the man. My band plays 'Can't Get Enough of Your Love' and it always gets a good response from the crowd.

I've been watching American Idol, and one of the final contestants - Ruben Studdard - could be Barry's son, both in looks and voice.

[Zipporah]

At the Drs. office I read a story on him in an AARP publication nothing mentioned politics though. Is Barry a conservative?

[mhking]

Is Barry a conservative?

Barry is that rarest of celebrities (and refreshingly so) who doesn't wear his politics on his sleeve. He has said in the past that it is something he does not discuss.

[FreedomPoster]

Ruben needs to win that thing. My wife watches, so I'm passing familiar with the show (and love Simon's "tell it like it is, screw self-esteem" approach), and Ruben is like a pre-reincarnated Barry-in-training.

Terrible news about Barry; hope he comes out of this well.

[Pharmboy]

I am sorry to hear about this. He is relatively young; strokes for white people this age are essentially unheard of. Unfortunately, not so for African Americans. This is a major killer/disabler for all in this country, but much worse for blacks. To help defeat strokes (both in middle age and in the older folks for both black and white):
--take high blood pressure medicine if needed
--lose weight if necessary
--control your diabetes
--stop smoking
--speak to your doctor about taking aspirin daily and at what dose
--if you have a family history of stroke (esp. early stroke) make an appointment with a neurologist and speak about prevention
--see if a cholesterol-lowering medication would be right for you (good evidence that they can reduce risk of stroke)
--check out various web sites, e.g., neurological associations, National Medical Association (AA medical society) and general health sites such as webmd and medscape

Best,
PB

[Thebaddog]

Hang in there, Barry. We're pulling for you and the pipes.

[stanz]

Very sad to hear this. Barry White's smooth baritone voice was an important part of '70's disco scene. I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

[Mr. Bird]

Wow. Didn't Luther Vandross just have a stroke within the past month or so?

[isthisnickcool]

Prayers for him....

[Mr. Bird]

Just checked. Luther Vandross had a stroke on April 16. Is there something in their love potion?

[Luis Gonzalez]

Barry is intricately woven into my memories.

"I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby" was the song that was playing the night my first true romance began. It was the song that was playing the first time we...well, you know.

Unfortunately, the first time I had actually...well, you know, with someone, Jethro Tull's "Cross Eyed Mary" was playing. I have very strange reactions to Ian Anderson's voice to this day.

Ruben Suddard will forever be a second-rate Barry White unless he develops his own style.

Barry: hang in there.

[mhking]

Didn't Luther Vandross just have a stroke within the past month or so?

Yep - Luther is still in a coma behind the stroke; it doesn't look too good for him...

[Tribune7]

Bad news.

[mass55th]

First Luther Vandross, now Barry White. Prayers go out to both of these fine men.

[ewing]

Barry is the man, I hope he can get back his speech soon..

[mafree]

I love Barry White and I prat that he recovers.

[floriduh voter]

Luther and now Barry. This is not meant to be sarcastic but Ruben Studdard may get votes on American Idol with these two guys on injured reserves. That being said, I prefer the way Clay Aiken sings better.

Finally, I heard that Clay Aiken and Kimberly Locke are living together in Ca. That explains why Clay was crying when Kimberly Locke was voted off AI the other night. If folks aren't interested in American Idol, don't flame me, just take my post for what it is. Some Freepers are interested in American Idol information. FV

[floriduh voter]

Ruben Studdard can sing but I do not get chills. Sometimes he looks bored and other times, his facial expressions are kinda wacky. Barry White is light years ahead of Ruben and so was Luther - their singing is electrifying and Ruben's is not. I'm a singer and if it's not electrifying, it's not good enough for me (I am slightly above average - not claiming to be a great singer).