Clifford White

U.K. new age composer Clifford White began to express a unique talent for music at the age of 15. Although he could not read music, he began to experiment with simple piano compositions, tape loops, and sound effects. Wanting to encourage his talent, White's mother sent him to take piano lessons with Jon Land. After a month of disappointing progress, Land was about to dismiss the student when White asked if he could play some of his own compositions. Though White broke some of music's harmonic rules, Land was astonished at White's natural talent and did everything he could to encourage him. The two soon pooled their funds to put together a small studio, recording enough material for six albums, including White's Ascension (1985).

At a new age exposition, White discovered the New World Music label and sent his album to the label's founder, Colin Wilcox. Wilcox was so impressed with the young White's album that he offered him a deal for all their recordings. Ascension has been a strong, steady seller for New World, with over 70,000 copies sold by 1997. The album has also been released on a number of other labels, including White's own 21st Century Music.

White released several albums with New World and has collaborated with other new age artists, including Jon Land, Steven Russell, Stairway, Chris Mitchell, L'Espirit, Free Flow, Jim McCarty, Peter Downes, Anthony Cubbon, and the group Free Flow.

As White learned more about the music business, he decided to form his own record company, 21st Century Music, located in Middlesex, U.K. He also founded the New Age Music Association (NAMA) to address the concerns of the new age music community, launched a new age magazine, Soundwaves, and created Spectrum Radio, a new age radio program.

With all this success, White notes that he never did learn how to read music. His mentor and music teacher Jon Land is now on White's 21st Century label.