Thomas Bennett Sim White, a renowned blues vocalist, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was recognized for his distinctive gravel-voiced voice and had a remarkable career spanning multiple decades. In the 1960s, White recorded with the beat groups The Boston Dexters and The Buzz, collaborating with renowned producer Joe Meek in 1966.
White's breakthrough came in the 1970s when he became the first artist to perform live on Top of the Pops. He also provided vocals for Robbie Coltrane's character Big Jazza McGlone in the award-winning television series Tutti Frutti in 1987.
The 1970s saw White experience mixed fortunes after the Boston Dexters disbanded. He hosted his own television show on Scottish Television and performed in working men's clubs, eventually returning to his earlier profession as a stonemason. White reflected on this period, stating, "Everyone wanted me to be somebody else. I did a series for STV in the 1970s, my own show, and I ended up in a monkey suit – it was incredibly embarrassing – and doing working men's clubs. I got hooked into that, anything to make a living."
During this time, White struggled with heavy drinking, a habit he kicked in 1980. The same year, he reformed the Dexters with a changing lineup, featuring guitarist Jim Condie and jazz pianist Brian Kellock, with whom he recorded a duet album. As Tam White & The Dexters, the band developed a loyal following for their live performances, often selling out shows.
White's musical career included support slots for renowned blues artists such as B.B. King, Al Green, and Van Morrison. As the Dexters disbanded for a second time, collaborations with musicians like Neil Warden, Fraser Speirs, and Boz Burrell led to the formation of The Shoestring Band, which continued to perform until Burrell's passing in 2006. White later re-formed the Dexters.
In addition to his music career, White began acting on television in 1990, starring in The Wreck on The Highway by Colin MacDonald. His notable roles include Paper Mask, The Negotiator, Braveheart, Cutthroat Island, Orphans, and two appearances in Taggart, once in 1992 and once in 2000. He also appeared in Rebus: Black and Blue, The Legend of Loch Lomond, Goodbye, Mr Steadman, and Man Dancin'.
White's latest television appearances were in EastEnders, where he played Tony Macrae from late 2003 to early 2004, and in the BBC Scotland soap River City in 2009.
A fitness enthusiast, Thomas Bennett Sim White passed away on June 21, 2010, after a heart attack following a gym session in Edinburgh.
