I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet:

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Barry White Suffers Stroke



Fri May 16, 8:25 PM ET


Barry White's baritone pipes have provided the soundtrack for many a make-out session over the past four decades. Now comes word the deep-voiced funkster has suffered a stroke which has impaired his speech.

It's the latest health woe for the 58-year-old soul man, who announced last fall that he needed a kidney transplant after years of battling high blood pressure.

Speaking at a press conference in Los Angeles Friday, White's daughter, Shaheara, said her father suffered the stroke while undergoing dialysis treatment for his kidney failure.

"My dad had surgery May 1 to place a catheter in his arm," she told reporters, according to wire reports. "He had a stroke...that affected his speech and the right side of his body, but he is in great spirits."

But she also insisted that the stroke was "a minor setback," adding, "have no fear, he'll be fine. He will definitely be performing again."

The singer, who has been ailing since 1999, needs to be stablilized before he can receive a new kidney, his daughter said.


Known for warbling such get-it-on hits as "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," "You're the First, the Last, My Everything," "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness," "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me," "I'm Gonna Love You, Just a Little More Baby" and "Love's Theme," White has had worldwide sales in excess of 100 million. He's also chalked up 106 gold albums, 41 platinum albums, 20 gold singles and 10 platinum singles.

White won his first two Grammys for his last studio album, 1999's Staying Power. He boasts an illustrious musical track record. All that and he saved Springfield, the hometown of The Simpsons, in the fourth season episode "Whacking Day," using his trademark vocals to solve the town's serpent problem.

In happier news, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to rename a recreation center in the city's South Park neighborhood after White, who was born in Texas but grew up in the area.


With Luther Vandross still recovering from a stroke also, let's hope they have a speedy recovery.
[This message was edited Mon May 19 14:19:45 PDT 2003 by PhilG]

Geez, first Luther Vandross has a stroke and now Barry White? What's going on with all of these great male soulful singers getting sick on us? I hope they both get well real soon!

not the maestro as well...

America needs Rubben Studdard now more than ever

Rudy said:

who?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I think he's that American Idol finalist.

I heard about this Late Friday&I'm still Pulling Hard for Barry.since late 98 mid 99 He has Been Battling different things.Prayers are with Barry White.

minneapolisgenius said:

i still haven't a clue who the cat is...oh well, guess that's a good thing.

This along with Luther is just sad news for the music industry (ecspecially R&B). I just hope they get better, not just for music's sake but for their own.

psychodelicide said:

um, they were fat and didn't take care of themselves?


i mean, i'm overweight and i eat shitty food every day, but i'm not going to wonder what the hell happened to me when i'm 50 and have a heart attack/stroke.

AaronSuperior said:

I know that they're fat and didn't take care of themselves, but that's not the point. The point is that it's a shame that this had to happen to them.

AaronSuperior said:

you can Be Skinny&Drop in your 20's.Size is overrated.now it helps to balance your diet out but your size doesn't make you Healthy.you can be Big&Healthy&Be Skinny&On the way Out.you can't tell it's all the Luck of the draw.

There's something weird about this; it was about 3 or 4 months ago that people were telling me Barry White had a stroke.

mistermaxxx said:

obviously Barry and Luther aren't/weren't big and healthy.