Gothic Theatre

Jim White

Southern Gothic singer/songwriter Jim White grew up in Pensacola, Florida enamored with the sounds of the white gospel music he heard on the Gospel Jubilee television series. After spending his formative years on the outskirts of a deeply Pentecostal community, he entertained a career as a professional surfer, followed by a stint in Milan as a fashion model. A band-saw accident which resulted in a maimed left hand seemed to end White’s hopes as a musician, but after writing a collection of simple songs on his guitar, a friend convinced him to record a demo which ultimately made its way to the offices of David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label. After re-recording the songs, White issued his debut Wrong Eyed Jesus—a collection of atmosheric, oddly spiritual country-folk performances —in 197. No Such Place was issued in early 2001.