Tony Joe White

Though his public profile ebbed and flowed over the course of his career, Louisiana-born singer, songwriter, and guitarist Tony Joe White was revered by his peers and recognized by fans as the King of Swamp Rock. White's gritty, soulful music wove together elements of blues, country, and rock and was a unique, powerful reflection of his Southern roots, and his songs were richly detailed stories of life in the Mississippi Delta. Elvis Presley, Brook Benton, and Tina Turner all covered his songs, and he was a hero to roots music fans in Europe even when his career at home was overlooked. The best of his '60s and '70s work can be sampled on 2006's Swamp Music: The Complete Monument Recordings and 1993's The Best of Tony Joe White, and 2010's The Shine was a superior effort recorded after a long period under the radar.