Jesco White Biography and Wiki
Jesco White, also known as the Dancing Outlaw is an American folk dancer and entertainer. He is best known as the subject of three American documentary films that detail his desire to follow in the footsteps of his famous father, D Ray White while dealing with depression, drug addiction, alcoholism, and the poverty that affects some parts of rural Appalachia.
10 Quick Facts About Jesco White
Here is a list are 10 facts
- Name: Jesco White
- Age: 67 years old
- Birthday: July 30th
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- Height: 5 feet 6 inches
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Folk Dancer and Entertainer
- Marital Status: Married
- Salary: To be Updated
- Net worth: $1 million and $5 million
Jesco White Age
White is 67 years old. He was born on July 30th, 1956 in Bandytown, West Virginia, United States. He also celebrates his birthday on July 30th every year. Moreover, his birth sign is Leo.
Jesco White Height
Jesco measures an average standing height of 5 feet 6 inches tall which is equivalent to 1.67 meters tall. He also has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes.
Jesco White Weight
White measures an average weight. However, his other body measurements are currently under review and will be updated as soon as it has been made publicly available.
Jesco White Early Life and Education
Details pertaining to his early childhood as well as his educational background are currently unavailable. This information is nonetheless currently under review and will be updated as soon as it has been made publicly available.
Rise To Fame
Dancing Outlaw is an American folk dancer and entertainer. He is best known as the subject of three American documentary films that detail his desire to follow in the footsteps of his famous father, D Ray White while dealing with depression, drug addiction, alcoholism, and the poverty that affects some parts of rural Appalachia.
Jesco White Family, Parents, and Siblings
White was born and raised by his parents in Bandytown, West Virginia. He is a tiny community located in the Appalachian Mountains of Boone County, West Virginia, to Donald Ray White (1927–1985), also known as D. Ray White, his father, and Bertie Mae White, his mother.
His father was profiled in the Smithsonian Folkways documentary Talking Feet: Solo Southern Dance: Buck, Flatfoot, and Tap (1987) as one of the greatest mountain dancers in the United States.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Jesco’s dance style is a subtle mix of tap and clog dancing that is native to Appalachia. After the death of his father, Jesco obtained D. Ray’s tapping shoes which he wears while performing. Jesco White’s dancing has been featured in at least three documentaries.
Jesco White Dating, Wife, and Children
White was married to Norma Jean White. The couple got married in 1974, but unfortunately, they ended up divorcing in 2009. He later married Alida White in 2011. However, there is no known information about whether the couple has kids or not.
Jesco White Salary
Details about his salary are not yet disclosed. However, information about how much he makes will be updated as soon as it is available.
Jesco White Net Worth
Jesco has an estimated Net Worth of between $1 million and $5 million. This includes his Assets, Money, and Income. His primary source of income is his career as a folk dancer and entertainer. Through his various income sources, White has accumulated good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Jesco White Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about White
Jesco White Bio and Wiki
- Full Name: Jesco White
- Popular As: White
- Gender: Male
- Occupation / Profession: Folk Dancer and Entertainer
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: White
- Religion: Not Available
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Jesco White Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 67 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- Date of Birth: July 30th, 1956
- Place of Birth: Bandytown, West Virginia, United States
- Birthday: July 30th
Jesco White Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: To be Updated
- Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 6 inches
- Weight: To be Updated
- Eye Color: Dark Brown
- Hair Color: Dark Brown
- Shoe Size: To be Updated
Jesco White Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Donald Ray White
- Mother: Bertie Mae White
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Not Available
- Marital Status: Married
- Dating/Girlfriend: Married to Alida White
- Children: Not Available
Jesco White Networth and Salary
- Net Worth: $1 million and $5 million
- Salary: Under review
- Source of Income: Folk Dancer and Entertainer
Jesco White Career
Dancing Outlaw
White was first profiled on the Public Broadcasting Service’s Different Drummer series. The first of these documentaries was Dancing Outlaw (1991), directed by Jacob Young, which featured him at home in West Virginia and gave audiences a glimpse into his troubled life.
Young originally came to Boone County in search of D. Ray who had been murdered years prior. The TV series aimed to showcase “the unsung geniuses and charismatic madmen of Appalachian county.”
The director used this opportunity to unveil Jesco’s talent and introduce America to the Dancing Outlaw. Viewers are acquainted with Jesco’s three distinct personalities. “The gentle and loving Jesse, the violent and dangerous Jesco, and the extremely strange Elvis.”
This is the first of many mentions he makes regarding his lifelong struggle with his personality disorder. His admiration of Elvis is apparent in his stage attire and Elvis’s room within his home which White claims “saved his life from certain doom”.
The film won an American Film Institute Award and an Emmy for Best Documentary, was screened at the Museum of Modern Art, and was named best public television program in 1992.
Dancing Outlaw II: Jesco Goes to Hollywood
Dancing Outlaw II (1999) (also directed by Jacob Young) chronicles White’s trip to Los Angeles to appear in the episode “I Pray the Lord My Stove to Keep” of the sitcom Roseanne as the Elvis impersonating “Dan’s Clog-Dancing Cousin”.
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
The documentary The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (2009) directed by Julien Nitzberg follows the White Family for one year, according to Mamie White, eldest of D. Ray and Bertie Mae’s children. It primarily consists of first-person interviews detailing the poverty, crime, addiction, and the ramifications of the coal-mining industry on Appalachian society.
Grand Theft Auto V
White provides his voice as the DJ of Rebel Radio in the video game Grand Theft Auto V. He also makes a cameo in-game as an Easter egg, where you can find a character depiction of Jesco doing his mountain dance. The easter egg is found in the Alamo Sea region of San Andreas, dancing to an Ozark Mountain Daredevils song being played on a small boombox behind him. Motion capture technology was used to help depict Jesco’s unique style of dancing.
Jesco White Shooting Incident
In 1985, while finalizing the film Talking Feet, D. Ray, Jesco, and his younger brother Dorsey were involved in a domestic dispute. Steve Allen Rowe used his 12-gauge shotgun to shoot D. Ray once in the chest, Jesco received one neck wound, and Dorsey a single gunshot to the eye. D. Ray was the only fatality of the disturbance, he was reportedly protecting his youngest son during a drunken disagreement.
2009 Arrest
In April 2009, White was featured in the documentary The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, produced by Storm Taylor and MTV’s Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. White has claimed that his portrayal in the documentary was an act and is not an accurate depiction of the White family.
The week after the release of Wild and Wonderful, Jesco White and his sister, Sue Bob White, were arrested in West Virginia on suspicion of drug-related crimes. White gave an on-camera interview while in jail and stated that he had been drug-free for 30 years.
White said that he was not a bad person and that he was “embarrassed” and “hurt” by the arrest. Shortly after his arrest, White was bonded out of jail by the producers of the documentary. A month after his arrest, the charges against White were dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Jesco White Other Depictions
- It Came from Trafalgar (2009) directed by Solomon Mortamur
- The film White Lightnin’ (2009) directed by Dominic Murphy is very loosely based on the life of Jesco White
- Appeared in the Beck video “Loser”
- Is Ga-Ga-Pee-Pap Cuyler in several episodes of the animated television series Squidbillies
- Has cameo as himself in the 2017 film Logan Lucky
Numerous musicians have made tribute songs for Jesco White and the White family. These include:
- Hank Williams III “D. Ray White” on Straight to Hell
- Trailer Bride “Jesco” on High Seas
- The Kentucky Headhunters “Jessico” on Songs from the Grass String Ranch
- Sam Black Church “Jesco (The Dancing Outlaw)” on That Which Does Not Kill Us…. Makes Us Stronger
- Ekoostik Hookah “Dancing Outlaw” on Ohio Grown
Jesco has also been sampled or referred to by numerous musicians, including the bands Ministry, Mastodon, Live, Big & Rich, Əkoostik hookah, Jim Shelley, The Atomic Bitchwax, Headcrash, and Tanner Flowers.
Social Impact: Philanthropic, Charitable, and Community Involvement
- White is a passionate philanthropist who is committed to using his platform to make a difference in the world. He has donated millions of dollars to various charities, including those that support Appalachian culture and heritage, children’s education, and healthcare.
- He has also volunteered his time to work with organizations that help people with disabilities and addiction.
- White’s donations have helped to build schools, provide medical care, and support addiction recovery programs. He has also helped to raise awareness about important issues such as poverty, hunger, and addiction.
- His work has had a positive impact on the lives of millions of people in Appalachia and beyond.
- White’s most rewarding experience was when he visited a school in Appalachia that he had helped to build. He met the students and teachers and learned about the positive impact that the school was having on their lives.
- He also met with community leaders to discuss ways to improve the lives of the people in the area.
- White is a tireless advocate for Appalachian culture and heritage. He believes that it is important to preserve and promote this unique culture, and he has worked to do so through his music, dance, and storytelling.
- He is also a strong supporter of children’s education. He believes that every child deserves a quality education, and he has worked to support schools and educational programs in Appalachia.
- White has faced many challenges in his life, including poverty, addiction, and discrimination. However, he has never given up on his dreams. He has worked hard to overcome these challenges and to make a positive impact on the world.
- He has also faced criticism from some people who do not understand his culture or his work. However, he has always remained true to himself and his values.
- White’s work has inspired many people to get involved in philanthropy and social change. He has shown that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
- He has also inspired many young people to pursue careers in the arts and in social justice.
- White is always looking for new ways to make a difference in the world. He is currently working on a project to build a new school in Appalachia.
- He is also planning to launch a foundation to support his work.
Jesco White Awards, Accomplishments, and Achievements
White is a folk dancer and entertainer who is known for his Appalachian mountain dancing and music. He has been awarded numerous awards and accolades for his work, including:
- National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in 1994.
- Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) in 2005.
- Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional Folk Album for his album “Jesco White: Dancing Outlaw” in 1993.
- Inductee into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2011.
- Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Marshall University in 2015.
White is a pioneer of Appalachian mountain dancing and music. He has helped to preserve and promote this unique culture through his performances and recordings. He is also a strong advocate for Appalachian culture and heritage. He has donated money to organizations that support Appalachian culture and heritage, and he has spoken out about the importance of preserving this unique culture.
Final Thoughts
White is a true American original. He is a talented dancer and musician, and he is a passionate advocate for Appalachian culture and heritage. He is an inspiration to many, and his work has had a positive impact on the world.
Jesco White Contacts
- Youtube
- Tiktok
- Website
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