Morris White

Who was Morris White?

Morris Ellis "Fruit" White was an American jazz banjoist and guitarist.

White was born in Nashville and grew up in Peoria, Illinois. He played in the 1920s with Charlie Creath, Dewey Jackson, and Ethel Waters before joining The Missourians in 1928. In 1930, Cab Calloway became the leader of the ensemble; White became one of his most important sidemen, and remained with Calloway's band into 1938. He played with Lionel Hampton in 1941, then left the music industry for good.