John Paul White
FLORENCE – John Paul White, Grammy Award winner and co-founder of Single Lock
Records, will join the Department of Entertainment Industry faculty as a Visiting Artist of Practice for the Fall 2021 semester. As part of his seminars, students will learn about the music industry from an insider who has toured the world as a solo artist who is also a graduate of the University of North Alabama.
“I am very excited to announce that I am fulfilling another dream,” White said. “I will be joining the University of North Alabama as a visiting faculty member this fall semester. I’m honored to have the opportunity to give back to my alma mater and to share my experiences with students eager to tackle this vocation.”
White was born in Muscle Shoals, but he grew up in Loretto, Tenn., He moved to Florence to attend UNA. For the last 20 years, he has honed his career, first as a songwriter and major publisher and then as half of The Civil Wars – a groundbreaking duo that won four Grammys before disbanding in 2012. Since then, White has worked and toured as a solo artist, often collaborating with other well-known names in the music industry, including Emmylou Harris, Roseanne Cash, Shoals native Jason Isbell. His most recent album, The Hurting Kind, was released in 2020.
Sara Lynn Baird
“The College of Arts and Sciences is thrilled to announce that we have engaged John Paul White as Visiting Artist of Practice,” said Dr. Sara Lynn Baird, Dean of the College. “He will teach in the Department of Entertainment Industry and offer seminars on varied relevant topics to students in business and the arts. We are proud of his accomplishments in the music industry and his career as an alumnus of UNA and very excited to welcome him back to campus now as a member of our excellent faculty.”
Robert Garfrerick
White will be teaching alongside Dr. Bob Garfrerick, the Chair of the Department of Entertainment Industry. Dr. Garfrerick was not among White’s professors when White was a student; however, he said, “I have the utmost respect for him, and he has given back as a guest speaker to classes many times. I have particularly enjoyed watching him evolve as a creator over the past 20 years to the artist he is today.”
“Getting to add a multiple Grammy winner to your team is a rare occurrence in higher education,” Garfrerick added. “We are beyond excited to have our alum John working with us, and our students will get incredible value from this. We are so grateful to be part of, and benefit from, John’s legacy.”
Media Release/Ms. Michelle R. Eubanks
Director
University Communications & Marketing
UNA
