- Jesco White
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Jesco White 
Born Jesco "Jesse" White
July 30, 1956
Bandytown, West Virginia, U.S.Other names "The Dancing Outlaw" Occupation Mountain Dancer, Entertainer Years active 1980's –present Spouse Norma Jean White (1974–2009) Jesco White, the "Dancing Outlaw", (born July 30, 1956) is an American mountain dancer and entertainer. He is best known as the subject of three American documentary films that detail his desire to follow in his famous father's footsteps, while trying to overcome depression, drug addiction, and the poverty that afflicts rural Appalachia. He is a member of the White family.[1]
Contents
Personal life
Jesco White was born in Bandytown, a tiny community located in the Appalachian Mountains of Boone County, West Virginia to Donald Ray White (1927–1985), also known as D. Ray White, and Bertie Mae White. White's father, D. Ray, was profiled in the Smithsonian Folkways documentary Talking Feet: Solo Southern Dance: Buck, Flatfoot and Tap (1987) as one of the greatest mountain dancers in the United States.[2] Following in the footsteps of his father, Jesco's dance style is a subtle mix of tap and clog dancing that is native to Appalachia. Jesco White's dancing has been featured in at least three documentaries.
White was married to Norma Jean White (1939-2009), and their tumultuous relationship is partially detailed in the Dancing Outlaw.[3]
2009 arrest
In April 2009, White was featured in the documentary The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, produced by Storm Taylor and MTV's Johnny Knoxville & Jeff Tremaine. The film debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. White has claimed that his portrayal in the documentary was an act and is not an accurate depiction of the White family.[4][5]
The week after the release of Wild and Wonderful, White and his sister, Sue Ann White, were arrested in West Virginia on suspicion of drug-related charges.[6] White gave an on-camera interview while in jail and stated that he had been clean for 30 years. White said that he is not a bad person and that he was "embarrassed" and "hurt" by the arrest.[7] Shortly after his arrest, White was bonded out of jail by the MTV producers of the newly released documentary about the White family.[8][9] A month after his arrest, Jesco White was cleared, and the charges against White were dismissed due to lack of evidence.[10][11]
Depictions in media
Dancing Outlaw
White was first profiled on the Public Broadcasting Service's "Different Drummer" Series. The first of these documentaries was Dancing Outlaw (1991),[12] directed by Jacob Young, which featured him at home in West Virginia and gave audiences a glimpse into his troubled life.
Dancing Outlaw II: Jesco Goes to Hollywood
Dancing Outlaw II (1999)[13] (also directed by Jacob Young) chronicles White's trip to Los Angeles to appear in an episode of the sitcom Roseanne as Elvis impersonating "Dan's Clog-Dancing Cousin".
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
Main article: The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West VirginiaThe documentary The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (2009) directed by Julien Nitzberg follows the White Family for one year and primarily consists of first person interviews detailing the poverty, crime, addiction and the ramifications of the coal-mining industry on Appalachian society.[14][15]
Other depictions
- It Came from Trafalgar (2009) directed by Solomon Mortamur[16]
- The film White Lightnin' (2009) directed by Dominic Murphy is very loosely based on the life of Jesco White.[17][18]
- Appeared in the Beck video "Loser".
- Voiced Ga-Ga-Pee-Pap Cuyler in "Dead Squid Walking" (season 5, episode 3) and "The Return of Gaga PeePap" (season 6, episode 9) in the animated television series Squidbillies.
Numerous musicians have made tribute songs for Jesco White and the White family. Some of these include:
- Hank Williams III "Legend of D. Ray White" on Straight to Hell
- Trailer Bride "Jesco" on High Seas
- The Kentucky Headhunters "Jessico" on Songs from the Grass String Ranch
- Sam Black Church "Jesco (The Dancing Outlaw)" on That Which Does Not Kill Us.... Makes Us Stronger
- White is mentioned in the lyrics of the song "Rattlesnake" by the band Live: "...we'll lay flowers at the grave of Jesco White, the sinner's saint."
- White is mentioned in the title track of the second album by Big & Rich, Comin' to Your City
References
- ^ Jesco White at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ (Documentary) Talking Feet:Solo Southern Dance:Buck, Flatfoot and Tap. Smithsonian Institution: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. 1987. Event occurs at 1:12 onward. http://www.folkstreams.net/film,121. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
- ^ Norma Jean White at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ WSAZ News Staff (2009-04-29). "MTV Producers Bond Jesco Out of Jail". WSAZ Channel 3 News. http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/43836817.html?storySection=story. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ "Jesco Out of Jail". MetroNews, The Voice of West Virginia. 2009-04-29. http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=30178. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ Hicks, Martin (2009-04-28). "Dancing Outlaw Behind Bars". WCHS 8 Eyewitness News. http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/0904/090428_06b67cfc.shtml. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ "Jesco White Gives Jailhouse Interview After Arrest". WSAZ Channel 3 News, via YouTube. 2009-04-29. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW7r5ebJry0. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ WSAZ News Staff (2009-04-29). "MTV Producers Bond Jesco Out of Jail". WSAZ Channel 3 News. http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/43836817.html?storySection=story. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ "Jesco Out of Jail". MetroNews, The Voice of West Virginia. 2009-04-29. http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=30178. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ Associated Press (2009-05-22). "'Dancing Outlaw' Jesco White Cleared of Drug Charges". WSAZ Channel 3 News. http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/45842602.html. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ Keeney, Lawrence (May 2009). "Charges Dropped against "Outlaw"". Coal Valley News.
- ^ Dancing Outlaw at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Dancing Outlaw II: Jesco Goes to Hollywood at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Owens, Jesi. "Interview: Wild, Wonderful, Poor, Trapped: Jesco White and Family Are Back". www.altdaily.com. http://www.altdaily.com/features/entertainment/film/wild-wonderful-poor-trapped-jesco-white-and-family-are-back.html. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
- ^ Jardin, Xeni. "The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia". www.boingboing.net. http://www.boingboing.net/2010/05/25/the-wild-and-wonderf.html. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
- ^ It Came from Trafalgar at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ White Lightnin at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ "White Lightnin'". Archives. Sundance Institute. http://history.sundance.org/films/5688. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
External links
Categories:- People from Boone County, West Virginia
- American dancers
- Entertainers
- 1956 births
- Living people
- Appalachian culture
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