Living Legend Skippy White radio DJ flyer-logo
D. DaNubian sat down to talk with local legend Skippy White. Skippy is a respected record store owner who stocked all of the urban music hits of the day. Listen to how they discuss Skippy’s start in radio and his commitment to R&B and Soul.
While listening one day back in 1953, Skippy happened upon a radio show featuring host DJ Symphony Sid who was playing vintage rhythm and blues from groups such as the Orioles. It was from that moment Skippy became hooked on the genre ever since. In the late 1950’s White worked at a college record store. In his travels, he happened upon a struggling radio station, W.I.L.D., which wasn’t doing well with revenue and decided to approach the owner about putting on a radio show. The owner agreed to his show pitch on the condition he found four sponsors for a two hour show. When his record store owner declined to be the fourth sponsor, White pulled together his savings, decided to also open his own store and both a legendary radio career and business venture began. In addition to being a champion for R&B and Soul on the radio, Skippy White went on to have a successful career as a record store owner
Skippy White logo
White’s first store location dates back to 1961 in Boston’s historic South End in Roxbury. The store was located at 1763 Washington Street at the corner of Mass. Avenue and was first named Mass Records before it became Skippy White’s Records. Skippy White, who is now in his late 80s, continues to show his committment to soul music. Skippy’s store locations were always tuned in to the musical trends and community choices he staunchly championed. They included:
- Roxbury (Mass Records – The Home of the Blues before it became Skippy White’s)
- Cambridge
- Providence
- Pawtucket
- Egleston Square
Skippy recently produced and promoted his soul review to Chevalier Theatre in Medford, MA earlier this August. This showcase celebrated the legends of R&B and Soul such as Russell Thompkins Jr. and The New Stylistics; The Temptations Revue featuring Paul Williams Jr., son of the Temptations original lead singer; Eddie Holman of “Hey There Lonely Girl” fame, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, The Delfonics, The Manhattans of Sonny Bivins, and The Intruders. White continues to share his music and explorations on local access BNN-TV as well as weekends on streaming music provider Heat981FM.
