Swamp Rock Legend Tony Joe White Dies Age 75

Swamp rock legend Tony Joe White has died, age 75.

"We are with broken hearts to announce that Tony Joe White has passed away at the age of 75," said a post to the musician's Twitter account.

"A true legend that will always be remembered as a real artist."

White released his debut album, Black & White, in 1969, and was best known for tracks like Polk Salad Annie, Ain't Going Down This Time and Rainy Night In Georgia. 

White was a highly sought after collaborator, having worked with the likes of Eric Clapton, JJ Cale, Mark Knopfler and more. Polk Salad Annie was famously covered by Elvis Presley and he wrote Steamy Windows and Undercover Agent For The Blues (co-written with Leann White) for Tina Turner's 1989 album, Foreign Affair.

White has over thirty studio and live albums to his name, including Bad Mouthin' which was released just last month.

White last performed in Australia at Bluesfest in 2017, and was scheduled to appear at this year's Out On The Weekend festival and a headline Australian tour earlier this year but cancelled in August due to a bulging disk in his back. 

Speaking with The Music today, Bluesfest director Peter Noble referred to White as "one of the greats".

"It’s sad. Tony Joe played Bluesfest nine times between 1997 and 2017, so that’s nine times in 20 years. Why? Because Bluesfest presents the greats and you know, it’s that simple," shared Noble. 

"Tony Joe White is one of the greats, one of the greatest songwriters, writing songs like Rainy Nights In Georgia. He’s written songs that Elvis Presley recorded, and at the same point in time, had his own career doing songs of his own.

"Whilst we have a music business that is contemporary and others come and go, after short careers, some have longer. People like Tony Joe White create careers where they are career musicians because they are that good and they’ve always got an audience and there’s always an audience who discovers them."

White's cause of death is yet to be announced.