White Witch (band)
Encyclopedia
White Witch was a glam rock
/psychedelic
/hard rock
band from Tampa, Florida
that made two albums for Capricorn Records
in the early 1970s. Their name was a paean to "white magic"
, contrary to the "black magic
" of groups like Black Sabbath
. As the band announced before their shows: "To bring good where there once was evil, to bring love where there once was hate, to bring wisdom where there once was ignorance; this is the power of White Witch".
The group was inducted into the Florida Musicians Hall of Fame's Florida Music Honor Roll.
After touring small venues around the southeast for almost a year, White Witch signed with Capricorn Records
, a label that included outfits such as the Allman Brothers Band and the Marshall Tucker Band
. Though somewhat uneasy about being the only non-southern rock
performers signed to the label, the members agreed to the contract without a manager or any legal representation and quickly recorded their self-titled debut album in Capricorn's Macon, Georgia
studios. The band toured extensively to support the record, opening for established acts like Alice Cooper
, Grand Funk Railroad
, Billy Preston
, and others.
Fischer left the group sometime after the first album and was replaced by Rabbi Barbee, who left before the group went back in into the studio in 1974. Bassist Charlie Souza and drummer Bill Peterson also joined the band before the second album.
Due to displeasure with their record label's lack of promotion and its interference in the band's recording sessions, Buddy Richardson left the group immediately after the second album (A Spiritual Greeting) was completed. He was replaced by guitarist George Brawley, who had spent the previous year as a session guitarist in Los Angeles
after leaving the southern rock group Brother from Columbia, SC. Drummer Bobby Shea stayed with the group as percussionist and back-up singer.
White Witch did a bit more touring and recorded four tracks on demo, but broke up in the late 1970s before a third album was recorded. After White Witch, Goedert made some solo recordings, Pendergrass wrote commercial jingles and opened a recording studio
, and Richardson played in other bands ("Revolver").
Some of the original group members began planning a reunion in the late 1990s which became impossible when lead singer Ron Goedert died of cancer
on July 16, 2000. Pendergrass also became a victim of cancer on March 16, 2003.
band, White Witch's music cannot be easily classified into a single genre. Songs on each album ranged from Progressive rock
and psychedelic
to hard rock
to honky tonk
to southern boogie to rock-pop. The common threads through their work were lyrics with a new age
/spiritual theme and the use of an early moog synthesizer
.
Most of the songs on their first album were written by Goedert and Pendergrass, with contributions from the other band members. All of the songs on the second album were written by Goedert, Pendergrass, and Richardson. Both albums were released on CD in 1999.
Record Guide gave it one star out of five, saying that it was a Southern answer to Black Sabbath
. The original review in Rolling Stone mistakenly called it Halloween music.
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
/psychedelic
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
/hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band from Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
that made two albums for Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records was an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia.-First Incarnation:...
in the early 1970s. Their name was a paean to "white magic"
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
, contrary to the "black magic
Black magic
Black magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
" of groups like Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. As the band announced before their shows: "To bring good where there once was evil, to bring love where there once was hate, to bring wisdom where there once was ignorance; this is the power of White Witch".
The group was inducted into the Florida Musicians Hall of Fame's Florida Music Honor Roll.
History
White Witch formed in 1971 in Tampa. The band originally featured lead singer Ronald "Ronn" (or "Ron") Goedert, guitarist Charles "Buddy" Richardson, keyboardist Hardin "Buddy" Pendergrass, drummer Robert "Bobby" Shea and bassist Loyall "Beau" Fisher. Several of the band members had belonged to a popular late-60s Tampa-area band called The Tropics.After touring small venues around the southeast for almost a year, White Witch signed with Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records was an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia.-First Incarnation:...
, a label that included outfits such as the Allman Brothers Band and the Marshall Tucker Band
Marshall Tucker Band
The Marshall Tucker Band is an American Southern rock band originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina. The band's blend of rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, country, and gospel helped establish the Southern rock genre in the early 1970s...
. Though somewhat uneasy about being the only non-southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
performers signed to the label, the members agreed to the contract without a manager or any legal representation and quickly recorded their self-titled debut album in Capricorn's Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
studios. The band toured extensively to support the record, opening for established acts like Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
, Billy Preston
Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
, and others.
Fischer left the group sometime after the first album and was replaced by Rabbi Barbee, who left before the group went back in into the studio in 1974. Bassist Charlie Souza and drummer Bill Peterson also joined the band before the second album.
Due to displeasure with their record label's lack of promotion and its interference in the band's recording sessions, Buddy Richardson left the group immediately after the second album (A Spiritual Greeting) was completed. He was replaced by guitarist George Brawley, who had spent the previous year as a session guitarist in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
after leaving the southern rock group Brother from Columbia, SC. Drummer Bobby Shea stayed with the group as percussionist and back-up singer.
White Witch did a bit more touring and recorded four tracks on demo, but broke up in the late 1970s before a third album was recorded. After White Witch, Goedert made some solo recordings, Pendergrass wrote commercial jingles and opened a recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, and Richardson played in other bands ("Revolver").
Some of the original group members began planning a reunion in the late 1990s which became impossible when lead singer Ron Goedert died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on July 16, 2000. Pendergrass also became a victim of cancer on March 16, 2003.
Music
Though primarily known as a glamGlam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band, White Witch's music cannot be easily classified into a single genre. Songs on each album ranged from Progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
and psychedelic
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
to hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
to honky tonk
Honky tonk
A honky-tonk is a type of bar that provides musical entertainment to its patrons...
to southern boogie to rock-pop. The common threads through their work were lyrics with a new age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
/spiritual theme and the use of an early moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
.
Most of the songs on their first album were written by Goedert and Pendergrass, with contributions from the other band members. All of the songs on the second album were written by Goedert, Pendergrass, and Richardson. Both albums were released on CD in 1999.
Discography
- White Witch, LP (1972, Capricorn Records 0107)
- A Spiritual Greeting, LP (1974, Capricorn Records 0129)
- "And I'm Leaving", 45 (1972, Capricorn Records)
White Witch
White Witch was released on Capricorn Records, Capricorn 0107. Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
Record Guide gave it one star out of five, saying that it was a Southern answer to Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. The original review in Rolling Stone mistakenly called it Halloween music.
- all songs by Goedert and Pendergrass except as noted
- Parabrahm Greeting/Dwellers of the Threshold (Goedert, Pendergrass, Richardson, Shea, and Fischer)
- Help Me Lord
- Don't Close Your Mind (Goedert, Pendergrass, and Richardson)
- You're the One
- Sleepwalk
- Home Grown Girl
- And I'm Leaving
- Illusion
- It's So Nice to be Stoned (Richardson and Fischer)
- Have You Ever Thought of Changing/Jackson Slade
- The Gift (Goedert, Pendergrass, Richardson, Shea, and Fischer)
A Spiritual Greeting
A Spiritual Greeting was released as Capricorn 0129. This album included Bill Peterson of Bacchus on drums and Charlie Souza of The Tropics and Cactus on bass guitar. Rolling Stone gave it two stars out of five, saying that the only thing it had going for it was the "fine production by Ron and Howard Albert".- All songs by Goedert, Pendergrass, and Richardson
- We'll All Ride High (Money Bag$)
- Slick Witch
- Walk On
- Class of 2000
- Showdown
- Crystallize and Realize YouTube
- Black Widow Lover
- Auntie Christy/Harlow
External links
- Official site for White Witch
- MySpace site for White Witch
- [ Allmusic.com entry for White Witch]
- Review of second album
- Pendergrass obit
- White Witch info
- Florida Music Hall of Fame