A Farewell to The Don White Show

For decades, Sunday evenings have been highlighted by an unmistakable groove. Hearing the first notes of Booker T. and the M.G.s’ “Green Onions” meant Tulsa’s very own Don White was about to play you some of the best songwriters ever recorded. White took the air in the 90s on 91.3FM, though not even Don is sure of the exact year. The show was something he had always wanted to do, a combination of country, rock, roots, blues, Red Dirt, and anything else Don felt fit the groove for the evening. The Don White Show – Music With A Groove became a staple of weekend programming on 91.3 FM. Even as the station’s sound evolved, Don White’s radio show stayed a major part of the stations programming.

Don’s programming sounded different than your average DJ. He did not just enjoy the music, he lived it. At one point or another, White played along side many of the artists he broadcast. He had stories that didn’t come from reading books or rumors on the internet, they came from his own experience. As his listenership grew, White added more to his weekly hour. He brought his guitar and played songs directly into the mic, he talked with fellow musicians, and even brought three generations of White musicians to the studio through his son Steve White and grandson Cory.

As a musician, White is probably known even more by the musicians than he was by the fans. He is a songwriter that other songwriters love to work with. White has worked with household names – he’s written songs for Rosanne Cash, recorded as a studio musician for Waylon Jennings, played in a band with J.J. Cale, and has opened for Merle, George, Toby, Dwight, and too many others to name. When Eric Clapton asks you to collaborate on a recording of a J.J. Cale song, you know you’ve had an impact on the world of music.

While White’s music, both what he played on the radio and what he played as a musician, could be described as traditional, it is also timeless. The sounds Don shares with the world resonate with anyone who loves music. It is not unusual for listeners to call the station to ask about a song on the program, and the voices on the other end of the phone tell a story of who gets his music – young and old, men and women, traditional and “hip”, everyone like music with a groove.

One thing that makes The Don White Show so remarkable is the time and effort Don has offered up to make the show happen. Like all of our RSU Radio DJs, Don White has volunteered his time from the beginning. For years, White drove from Tulsa or Disney to record his show every single week. He loves music, and that love has shined all throughout his time producing this radio show.

The 2020s were not kind to The Don White Show. Due to COVID restrictions, White was not able to record new shows for much of 2020. By the time he was able to return, the fans were ready for new shows. This streak was unfortunately cut short when Don felt something wrong with his voice. After many trips to the doctor, White was told he had a tumor in his throat. After radiation and chemotherapy, White spent a good amount of time resting and recovering to be able to sing and play music again. While Don has found the strength to return to the stage, he feels it is time to retire The Don White Show on RSU Radio.

We cannot overstate the impact that Don White has had on RSU Radio. He has given our listeners years of his life, and we appreciate every moment of it. The reality of community broadcasting and college radio is consistency is not easy to come by. Students graduate, volunteers only stay on for so long, but sometimes you luck into a host like Don White who exemplifies the spirit of community radio and carries the torch for purposeful songwriting.

Sunday at 7 pm will now feature Searching For The First Rock and Roll Song, a program that plays music from the era that defined rock and roll.