“Most of my performances are in straight clubs,” says house music vocal legend MJ White. “The girls love it ’cause they just don’t care, and the guys love it ’cause they’re just a little curious. Dance music has been very good to me,” he laughs. “I’m very sexual onstage, jump up and down and pull people onstage. In gay clubs the guys can be a little stand-offish and not touchy feely, but I’m hoping TO will be different.”

Though he lives in New York, White has a history with Toronto. “I came up there and met Dwayne Minard in a small club on Church St. I introduced myself and he said I was lying,” says White. “Then we recorded ‘Love Is Love’ that was released on the Disco Hed Candy Compilation and did real well.”

White has a powerhouse of a voice that is shown to advantage on a new track, “Sweet Innocence,” where he growls as deeply as Barry White before ascending to a breathtaking falsetto. “I had a high voice when growing up,” he explains. “In church they didn’t want me to use it. I was very self-conscious until I heard Sylvester.” In honour of pop music’s ultimate gay diva, Barry has recorded a sizzling cover version of “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).”

“When I started, I wanted a career in jazz or R&B, but I couldn’t be myself or express myself,” explains White. “With house, if I want to do a gospel or a dirty disco song, whatever I want to do, there’s an audience. I’ve been very blessed. Hard Candy kept the music and money rolling and broadened my audience.”

MJ White performs at Gowntown on Fri, June 25 at Buddies, 12 Alexander St and at the Jaded Edition of Milk on Sun, July 4 at Crews & Tangos, 508 Church St.

Info: myspace.com/mjwhiteny

Drew Rowsome is an associate editor at fab and gets shivers every time he hears Sylvester — and now MJ White.

Source: FAB Magazine

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