Tam White

Born Thomas Bennett Sim White in Edinburgh Scotland White was primarily known as a blues vocalist with a trademark gravelvoiced voice In the 1960s he recorded with beat groups The Boston Dexters and then The Buzz who recorded one single with record producer Joe Meek in 1966 In the 1970s White was the first artist to sing live on Top of the Pops2 and he provided the vocals for Robbie Coltrane to mime to as Big Jazza McGlone in John Byrnes awardwinning television series Tutti Frutti in 1987 Mixed fortunes in the 1970s after the Boston Dexters split saw him hosting his own TV show on Scottish Television and performing in working mens clubs followed by a spell when he returned to stonemasonry He told The Scotsman 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 mens clubs I got hooked into that anything to make a living During this time White was drinking heavily a habit he kicked in 19802 In the same year White reformed the Dexters with a changing lineup that over the years included guitarist Jim Condie and jazz pianist Brian Kellock with whom he also recorded a duet album Billed as Tam White The Dexters the band built up a solid and loyal following for their live appearances which generally sold out In addition to being a fixture at the Edinburgh Jazz And Blues Festival3 there were also support slots for many betterknown blues artists including BB King Al Green and Van Morrison4 As the Dexters split for a second time collaborations with musicians such as guitarist Neil Warden the harmonica player Fraser Speirs and bassist Boz Burrell eventually developed into a permanent lineup known as The Shoestring Band who continued performing together either as a trio or a larger band until Burrells death in 2006 After this White reformed the Dexters White began acting on television in 1990 playing John Maguire in The Wreck on The Highway by Colin MacDonald His most notable appearances include Paper Mask The Negotiator Braveheart Cutthroat Island Orphans and two roles in Taggart once in 1992 and once in 2000 He also had roles in Rebus Black and Blue playing Rico Briggs The Legend of Loch Lomond Goodbye Mr Steadman and Man Dancin His latest television appearances was playing Tony Macrae in EastEnders in late 2003 and early 2004 followed by a brief stint in 2009 in the BBC Scotland soap River City A fitness enthusiast he died of a heart attack after a gym session in Edinburgh on 21 June 20105