Matt White (musician)

Matt White is an American singer-songwriter based in New York City. His full-length debut album, Best Days, released by Geffen Records, reached No. 4 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.[1]

For other musicians named Matt White, see Matt White (disambiguation).
Matt White
Birth nameMatthew White
BornEnglewood, New Jersey, U.S.
OriginNew York City, U.S.
GenresRock, pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
InstrumentsSinging, guitar, piano
Years active2006–present
LabelsInterscope, Rykodisc, Geffen
Websitewww.mattwhitemusic.com

Biography

White was born in Englewood, New Jersey and raised in New York City.[2] He began playing the piano at age three and grew up playing classical music. He wrote an opera at age 11. White moved to Wisconsin in 1996 for college and began his singing career. While attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he learned to play the guitar when a piano wasn't available. After graduating from college, White moved back to New York City, where he continued busking, singing on street corners and in Washington Square Park. He eventually began performing in clubs like Joe's Pub and the Living Room. A fan sent an MP3 of White's song "Miracles", to an A&R rep at Geffen Records; his music, combined with him having over 50,000 MySpace friends, led to White being offered a recording contract with Geffen. In 2006, White debuted with the EP Do You Believe, selling 100,000 copies. His full-length album, Best Days, was released on September 18, 2007 on Geffen Records. White's music has appeared on the television series One Tree Hill, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, What About Brian, The Hills, Men in Trees and in the films She's the Man, Little Manhattan, Shrek the Third, What Happens in Vegas, Because I Said So, Wedding Crashers, Hotel for Dogs and Over Her Dead Body.

Best Days

The album Best Days was released on September 18, 2007. Reception to the music was very positive by music critics and mass audiences alike. A highlight of the album was when White was picked by MTV to be featured on 52 Artist Week Series which was a promotion that MTV ran at the time. White involved his maternal grandmother Shirley Kessleman, who was also one of the first female orchestral leaders in the country. The music video for Best Days stayed on the VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown for 16 weeks reaching number 6 on the Countdown. The album reached #4 on Billboard's New Artist chart and earned him high praises from press. Rolling Stone magazine listed him in their "10 Artists to Watch". Details magazine also added Best Days in their "best new music bubbling from the underground," saying White has "a falsetto smooth enough to melt the icy heart of a Brooklyn hipster."

White has toured extensively and has performed with Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, B.B. King, OneRepublic, Third Eye Blind and Counting Crows. White’s songs have garnered national attention, he played an integral role in The Gap's "Vote For" Initiative campaign, which encouraged Americans to express their ideals and become proactive during the 2008 election. His custom track “Songs of Freedom” became the theme song for campaign and aired on a special electoral episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. His music has also made a splash nationally in movies and TV shows, such as What Happens in Vegas, Shrek the Third, Because I Said So, The Hills, Men in Trees and One Tree Hill. White took 2009 to write his next record which he said would be mostly piano, and recorded on analog tape.

Recently, Matt White was picked as Facebook's first artist feature with demos from the upcoming album release.

It's the Good Crazy

Matt White's second album It's the Good Crazy was released on September 14, 2010 with 11 tracks.[3]

In December 2012 Matt's song "Love" was the first dance for The Bachelor wedding special with JP and Ashley and he is prominently featured on the "ABC" wedding special.

Shirley

Matt White's third album Shirley was released on August 5, 2013 with 11 tracks.[4]

White also Flew to Munich, Germany to play "Love and Affection" on an episode of "The Bachelorette." The song was threaded through the storyline and shot into the top 25 on iTunes.

White also performed "Love and Affection" on Good Morning America and VH1 morning buzz. Songs from Shirley were also used in "ABC Family's" Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries and "Fox's" New Girl.

Greenwich

White's fourth album began production in the beginning of 2015. Having spent 2014 writing his album, three of the songs as demos wound up in national commercials. A song White wrote features "Questlove" from The Roots in a Honda commercial. As well as a song featuring White in the Apple iPhone Commercial titled "phases."

Discography

Albums
  • Do You Believe (2003) Self released - debut LP
  • Best Days (2007)
  • It's the Good Crazy (2010)
  • Shirley (2013)[5]
  • Love Songs (2012) - EP

Singles
Year Title Chart
peak positions		 Album
Pop 100
2007 "Best Days" #19[6] Best Days

Singles
Year Title Chart
peak positions		 Album
Rock 100
2013 "Love and Affection" #26[6] Shirley

References
  1. "Matt White on The "It" Factor". The "It" Factor. CBS Digital Radio. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  2. Miller, Jen A. "Best Days for a Debut Jersey Artist", New Jersey Monthly, January 2008. Accessed June 23, 2008.
  3. Florino, Rick (September 14, 2010). "Matt White's "It's the Good Crazy" - 4.5 out of 5 stars". Artist Direct. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  4. poster, Rick (September 14, 2013). "Matt White's "Shirley" - 4 out of 5 stars". NME. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  5. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shirley/id681686878
  6. "Matt White > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic.

Sources

Rolling Stone Top Ten Artists to Watch

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