Musician, Music Editor, Journalist. Known as "The Singing Master", he was an important figure in American spiritual music. With Elisha James King he compiled the influential shape note tunebook "The Sacred Harp". White was a fifer in the War of 1812, and moved his family to Harris County, Georgia by covered wagon in May of 1842. He served as Clerk of the Inferior Court of Harris County, Georgia, and mayor of Whitesville, Georgia. He was also editor of the first Harris County newspaper, "The Organ". "The Sacred Harp" was first published in 1844; co-editor King died that year and White oversaw four reissues through 1870. He then bequeathed the rights to the book to his sons. "The Sacred Harp" is used by spiritual singers to this day. The most recent edition was published in 1991.