Tony Joe White Joins Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Class Of 2024

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Tony Joe White

The late Tony Joe White has been named the sixth member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

White spent his career writing and playing with his “whomper stomper” guitar and swampy baritone voice. Discovered by Nashville’s Bob Beckham, the Louisiana native started gaining popularity in France before his 1969 hit “Polk Salad Annie” made him an American star. Throughout the early ’70s, White honed his craft with songs such as “Roosevelt And Ira Lee,” “Willie And Laura Mae Jones,” “Take Time To Love,” “Rainy Night In Georgia” and more.

White’s cuts include a wide array of artists including Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Brook Benton, Hank Williams Jr., Ray Charles and John Anderson, among others. White was the focus of two 1998 documentary films in Europe, and his 2004 comeback CD was nominated for an Americana Music Association award. He was also featured in the HBO Series Sonic Highways and appeared on the David Letterman Show with Foo Fighters.

“We’re so proud to see Tony Joe White memorialized in this year’s class,” says Rich Hallworth, Chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Board Of Directors. “As demonstrated by classics such as ‘Polk Salad Annie’ and ‘Rainy Night In Georgia,’ Tony Joe’s enduring work as a songwriter/artist is outstanding, unforgettable and incredibly deserving of our ultimate recognition.”

White was elected in NaSHOF’s Legacy category designed to honor hall of fame-worthy candidates who are deceased. He will be inducted posthumously with the previously announced members of the Class of 2024, David Bellamy (The Bellamy Brothers), Al Anderson, Liz Rose, Dan Penn and Victoria Shaw during the 54th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Nov. 6 at Music City Center in Nashville.

Madison Hahnen
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