Jacky Jack White ’ s mission to preserve the Sucarnochee Revue by Glenda Sanders
Earlier this month , Jacky Jack White was center stage when the 18th season of the Sucarnochee Revue opened at Meridian ’ s historic Temple Theatre . Performing on stage in a front of a live audience is one of his favorite places to be .
“ I started performing when I was three years old ,” said White , founder and host of the Revue , which started 17 years ago on the campus of the University of West Alabama in Livingston , Ala .
The son of a minister , White grew up in Columbia , Tenn . By age 12 , he had learned to play a guitar and was comfortable singing in front of an audienc
Now , at age 69 , his folksy , down-to-earth presence is one of the charms that continues to draw fans of the Sucarnochee Revue season after season . Well , that along with the array of musical talent he is able to bring in show after show . Earlier this month , Berritt Haynes , a young Alabama singer who competed on The Voice last year , performed along with county music star Carl Ray and musician , songwriter and composer Tony Pasko .
“ I ’ ve got regulars . They come to one show after another ,” White said of the Revue ’ s loyal fans . “ I just saw someone over at Weidmann ’ s , and they said ‘ I come to every one of your shows ,’ and I just say ‘ thank you , thank you .’”
In the days of digitally streamed concerts straight to your living room , White is on a mission to preserve live stage shows where artists ’ interactions sometimes lead to memorable performances .
“ The Sucarnochee Revue is for people who really like live music done by talented , world beaten artists ,” he said .
When launching the Revue nearly two decades ago , his goal was to showcase artists from across the Black Belt Region , originally just those from Alabama then growing to take in performers from Mississippi . The president of UWA at the time , Richard Holland , shared his desire to preserve Alabama ’ s folk music history and agreed to host the show .
White envisioned the Revue as a stage show similar to the Grand Ole Opry , but a chance to bring in artists from different musical genres to introduce audiences to a variety of performers .
“ I went to the Opry a lot as a kiddo ,” he recalled . “ They would have an artist do just two songs and off , two songs and off , but it was all country music . I never liked that as much .
“ I was like why not have country music , then rock-nroll , then Southern gospel , then gospel , then maybe some
Photo by Glenda Sanders
jazz , some bluegrass , some more country , more rock-n-roll ,” White added . “ Why couldn ’ t you do that ? That ’ s what was in my mind . More variety . A real R-E-V-U-E .”
So , he put together a stage list of singers and musicians from a diverse background of musical genres . The show turned out to be a success . “ That first show , it was a great show ,” he admitted . By 2010 , the Sucarnochee Revue had become a nationally syndicated radio show and then was filmed for television airing on Mississippi Public Broadcasting . The show later
18 • MERIDIAN LIFE