Too Opinionated Interview: George Whitty

Today on Too Opinionated we sit down with multi-Grammy winning keyboardist George Whitty to talk about his new musical endeavour WHAT!!!!

In addition to playing live with the likes of The Brecker Brothers, Herbie Hancock, the late David Sanborn and Chaka Khan, as producer and session keyboardist, Whitty’s credits include Santana’s blockbuster Supernatural (with Dave Matthews), Celine Dion’s Falling Into You and These Are Special Times, Hancock’s The Imagine Project and hundreds of others. He has won four Grammys for his work on Chaka Khan’s The Woman I Am, Randy Brecker’s 34th and Lex, Michael Brecker’s Tales From the Hudson and the Brecker Bros.’ Out of the Loop.

Amidst all the searing soul balladry, deep spirituality, insightful and impactful social consciousness and rousing funk on their infectious dual album In the World, legendary, world-wise cats George Whitty and Ellis Hall – collectively pooling their decades of musical passion as Whitty Hall Artistic Team, aka WHAT!!!! - infuse a beloved, inevitable R&B classic into the enticing mix. Driven by Hall’s trademark rousing vocals, their fiery, tight groovin’ and brass fired twist on Isaac Hayes’ co-penned “I Thank You” takes the 1968 Sam & Dave classic to fresh, exciting heights. It’s a way for the duo to express gratitude for their incredible individual careers and all the serendipitous events that led them to this epic moment.  

One of many potential hit singles and film licensing opportunities from the 10-track collection, “Die Living” is a simmering blues-soul anthem whose title came to Whitty out of the blue one day and led him to create a powerfully rhythmic gospel-influenced song with a bit of a raw front porch vibe. Hall’s combination of vocals and organ drive the track, and he also adds various guitar tracks. In part inspired by a cool response Willie Nelson once gave a journalist who dared to ask if he would ever think of retiring, “Die Living” offers dynamic food for thought about wringing as much meaningful life experience we can during our time on this planet. 

WHAT!!!!'s new album In the World releases on February 14th, 2025. 

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