Jack White

BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Detroit as the youngest of 10 siblings, Jack White’s utilitarian approach filters through all of his work, from self-producing his own music to the Third Man empire he founded (which currently includes a pressing plant, a record label, three physical retail stores, a photo lab, a lounge/bar, and more), his upholstery and various other art and design pursuits, and anything else that crosses his desk. Over a quarter century into his professional musical career, White’s ability to weave relevant, compelling, and poignant artistry into his music leaves him unparalleled.

When the White Stripes started in 1997 no one, least of all White, ever expected that a red, white and black two-piece band would take hold in the mainstream world. The band's self-titled debut and sophomore effort De Stijl amassed critical acclaim and built a passionate underground following, but it was the release of 2001’s White Blood Cells that thrust the White Stripes onto magazine covers as they captivated larger audiences through worldwide touring. “Fell in Love With a Girl” served as the band’s breakthrough hit and its accompanying Michel Gondry Lego clip was chosen by Pitchfork as the #1 music video of the 2000s.

The release of Elephant in 2003 not only cemented the band’s reputation, but also offered the #1 hit single “Seven Nation Army,” which has since been appropriated as arguably the most popular chant in sports stadiums around the world.

In 2004, White teamed up with Loretta Lynn to produce and perform on her Van Lear Rose album, an effort that won GRAMMY Awards for “Best Country Album” and “Best Country Collaboration with Vocals” for the single “Portland, Oregon.” To date, White has won 12 GRAMMYs in eight different categories with 34 career nominations, and was honored with the Producers & Engineers Wing “President’s Merit Award” in 2017.

White formed a "new band of old friends," the Raconteurs, in 2006. Their debut album Broken Boy Soldiers featured the #1 hit single "Steady, As She Goes" and showed a markedly different side of White, one where songwriting, vocal and guitar duties were shared.

In 2009, White returned to his original instrument, the drums, and started The Dead Weather with members of The Kills, Queens of the Stone Age and The Greenhornes. Releasing two albums in two years and unleashing a dark, captivating live show upon curious audiences, The Dead Weather further cemented Jack White’s musical versatility and range. In 2015, the band released their third studio album, Dodge and Burn and garnered a “Best Music Video” Grammy nomination for the single, “I Feel Love (Every Million Miles).”

A 12-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and 36-time nominee, three of White’s five acclaimed solo albums – 2012’s RIAA gold certified solo debut, BLUNDERBUSS, 2014’s LAZARETTO and 2018’s BOARDING HOUSE REACH – debuted at #1 on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 along with a variety of other charts. Among his myriad international honors, White’s long run of career GRAMMY® awards and nominations saw BLUNDERBUSS earning five nods over two years, including “Album of the Year,” “Best Rock Album,” “Best Rock Song” (for “Freedom At 21”), “Best Rock Performance,” and “Best Music Video” (the latter two honoring the single, “I’m Shakin”). LAZARETTO proved equally popular with GRAMMY® voters, scoring a nomination as “Best Alternative Music Album,” while its title track received the 2015 GRAMMY® Award for “Best Rock Performance” as well an additional nod as “Best Rock Song.” BOARDING HOUSE REACH proved among White’s most unique works, topping a variety of charts in the US and Canada while drawing applause around the world. 

In 2021, THE WHITE STRIPES GREATEST HITS (Third Man Records/Legacy) made top 10 chart debuts around the world. That year also saw the grand opening of Third Man Records London – Third Man Records’ first ever store outside the USA and third physical space alongside facilities in Nashville and Detroit. White recently launched Jack White Art & Design, a new omnibus website cataloging the breadth of his creative output over more than two-and-a-half decades. Jack White Art & Design presents a comprehensive look at White’s award-winning artistic career through hundreds of photographs and videos, many of which have never been viewed by the public, showcasing key works within such practices as Industrial Design, Interior Design, Furniture & Upholstery, Graphic Design, Instruments & Hardware, Sculpture, Vinyl Concepts, Film Directing, and Photography. For more, please visit jackwhiteartanddesign.com.

In 2022, White released two solo albums: FEAR OF THE DAWN and ENTERING HEAVEN ALIVE. FEAR OF THE DAWN, which SPIN called “a Beefheartian thunderbolt of an album,” made a landmark chart debut following its release, entering at #1 on Billboard’s “Top Album Sales,” “Top Current Album Sales,” “Top Alternative Albums,” “Top Rock Albums,” "Record Label Independent Current Albums," "Digital Albums," "Current Digital Albums," "Internet Albums," and “Vinyl Albums,” as well as at #4 on the overall Billboard 200. This marks the fourth consecutive debut atop the “Top Alternative Albums” and “Top Rock Albums” charts for a new Jack White solo release. Internationally, FEAR OF THE DAWN debuted at #3 in the UK, #6 in Germany, and in Japan at #4 on the Rock Chart and #7 on the International Chart. The album also debuted at #2 in the UK Official Vinyl Album Charts. ENTERING HEAVEN ALIVE, which Rolling Stone called “some of his best music,” followed later in the year, debuting at #9 on the Billboard 200, White’s second top 10 chart debut of the year. White supported the albums with The Supply Chain Issues World Tour, which included his first-ever shows in Southeast Asia.

Most recently, 2023 began with The White Stripes being nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in their first year of eligibility, a year in which will also see the 20th Anniversary celebration of their acclaimed album Elephant.

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