D. DaNubian interviews local legend Skippy White
D. DaNubian and Skippy White at WERS
D. DaNubian sat down to talk with local legend Skippy White. Skippy is a respected record store owner who stocked all of the urban music hits of the day. They discuss Skippy’s start in radio and his commitment to R&B and Soul.
Skippy White has held a legendary role in Boston’s soul, rhythm and blues, and gospel music scene for over 60 years. His work as a record store owner, producer, on-air DJ, and concert promoter has led him to be likely one of the most knowledgeable people on Boston’s music scene in the early 60s.
Formerly known as Fred Leblanc he started his journey as a music lover in Waltham Massachusetts, falling in love with the rhythms and blues sung by mainly Black musicians. When he graduated high school he moved to Boston and began collecting records and buying them in bulk. His love for soul and gospel music grew as he worked in a record store.
Skippy White Record Store logo
Eventually, and by chance, he opened up his own record store, Mass Records at 1820 Washington St in Boston’s South End. He started his work as a DJ at the financially struggling WILD-AM on the condition he finds four sponsors for his two-hour show. When the record store he was working at refused to be his fourth sponsor, he decided to open up his own record store.
Skippy White became known as Skippy White while at WILD-AM (1090).
Skippy White DJ logo
During this era his record stores served as a mecca for all music lovers. His stores became prime locations for people to learn about upcoming concerts and White shared his knowledge of all music to everyone who came in. Eventually, he opened up multiple stores that fell under the name Skippy White’s records that expanded to Cambridge, Providence, Pawtucket, and New Orleans.
He started his work at WILD-AM, and continued to be on different radio stations throughout Boston, even DJing today, at the cheerful age of 87. White’s work is deeply embedded into Boston’s music scene. As a concert promoter and producer, cultural music historian, record store owner, and community expert Skippy White knew his music better than anyone else in any room.
After 60 years his last store, which was stationed in Egleston Square closed in January of 2020 due to pandemic-related economic troubles, and White’s desire to have more free time. Now, in his free time he’s managed to begin a memoir and hosts two weekly radio shows. “The Time Tunnel” on Saturday mornings from eight to eleven and “The Gospel Train” on Sunday mornings from seven to ten both on 98.1 FM Online Radio The Urban Heat.
Skippy White’s contribution to Boston’s music scene will never be forgotten.
