The Band For Your Next Event!

Johnny White and The Elite Band are simply unrivaled in delivering unforgettable musical experiences, specializing in an array of events such as wedding receptions, conventions, private parties, and all types of reunions. Renowned for their colossal Motown medleys, Top 40 hits, Carolina Beach rhythms, soulful R&B tunes, bluesy melodies, and the timeless charm of Big Band music, this ensemble is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and captivating repertoire that caters to every taste.

At the heart of this musical powerhouse are two exceptional lead vocalists, Johnny White and Shirl, whose dynamic performances elevate any occasion. Complemented by three soul-stirring female background singers, the band crafts a captivating fusion of harmonies and high-energy choreography that invites spectators to become integral parts of their live shows. Undoubtedly, Johnny White and The Elite Band have earned their reputation as one of the premier show and dance bands in the industry.

Their impressive client list includes esteemed organizations and events such as IBM, National Tour Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Atlanta Symphony, Duke University, Norfolk Harbour Fest, Northern Telecom, UNC-Chapel Hill, and WQGK Radio. Beyond their notable client base, Johnny White and The Elite Band have graced stages across the globe, electrifying audiences everywhere they go. From the icy expanse of The Iditarod in Anchorage, Alaska, to the vibrant lights of the MGM Grand Casino in Reno, Nevada, and the lively Grand Prix in San Antonio, Texas, to the iconic Sheraton World and Sea World in Florida, The Waldorf Astoria in New York City, and The Omni in Georgia, their performances leave an indelible mark on audiences worldwide. With each note, they continue to set the stage ablaze, making every event an unforgettable celebration of music and entertainment.

• Dance to the unparalleled rhythms of Johnny White and The Elite Band, delivering unforgettable musical experiences at wedding receptions, conventions, private parties, and all types of reunions.

• Immerse yourself in the renowned Motown medleys, Top 40 hits, and Carolina Beach rhythms presented by Johnny White and The Elite Band, the go-to ensemble for soulful R&B tunes and bluesy melodies in North Carolina, specifically Raleigh-Durham.

• Elevate your event with the timeless charm of Big Band music, expertly curated by Johnny White and The Elite Band, specializing in a diverse and captivating repertoire that caters to every musical taste imaginable.

What Are People Saying About The Band?

A wonderful and exciting Band, Johnny White and the Elite played a performance for a 60th Birthday Party I hosted.  The band was great. The music was centered around the age group of my clients; 40-70 years of age.  The melody and acoustics were on point and the singers were elegant and poised.   This band played three sets for about an hour each.  The audience was well engaged and enthralled with the music the band played; several members of the audience were caught dancing and strolling to the beat.  The singers sang with such quality and pitch.  It was clear they were well rehearsed and had been singing as a seamless group for years.  Their movements were choreographed which also included wardrobe changes.  My favorite was the Blue attire.   I highly recommend Johnny & the Elite band for any type of event; they were professional from start to finish.   I hope to use them again soon. - Lauretta Gibson

Johnny White and the Elite Band is amazing! They played at my Retirement Legacy Ball celebrating my 35 years of service in Theatre Education. The variety of songs and energy made the evening spectacular! Bravo! You can never go wrong with Johnny White and the Elite Band. - Wendell Tabb

Thanks so much again to you and your team for your performance at Black Alumni Weekend. I could tell how much those in attendance enjoyed your amazing show! It was a pleasure to meet and work you. - Jess Sumpter Hamilton

You all were so great, thanks for making our night a huge success! Everyone loved your band! Barb Johnson

This band was so perfect for a wedding. There music appealed to my parents friends and to ours!!! I recommend them to anyone that is having a wedding and wants everyone to dance and have a blast. My guests are still raving about Johnny White and The Elite Band!! Katie Johnson

My wife and I all along knew that we wanted to hire wedding entertainment that would get our friends and family up from their seats and dancing throughout the night. The other major desire was to deal with professionals that would not add to the stress of the big day and know that they would deliver. Johnny White and his band are the UTMOST professionals with musical talent that far exceeds what we ever imagined we could hire for our wedding. Johnny personally worked with us on every detail from specific song choice (they learned and knocked out our entrance song in les than a week), flow of the evening, scheduling (they were there early, setup, had a rehearsal and were out of sight during the ceremony we had in the same venue) and every other detail imaginable. We had him for 5 hours total knowing in advance that our guests would not want to stop the fun and boy did they deliver. The music, the dancing, the wardrobe changes, the choreography…they know what to play and when depending on the mood of the crowd. Of everything we paid for in our wedding, Johnny is the one thing we know without a doubt was worth the money and all our friends and family are still raving about their performance today. We are presently looking for another reason to celebrate and hire this band back. Thanks again Johnny for making our wedding amazing!!

A Sample Of Our Music For Your Event

Variety Dance Music

A Green - Lets Stay Together; Al Green - Love And Happiness; Alicia Keys - Like You’ll Never See Me Again; Alicia Keys - No One; Angie Stone – I Ain't Hearing You; Aretha Franklin - Chain Of Fools; Aretha Franklin - Freeway Of Love; Aretha Franklin - Natural Woman; Aretha Franklin - Respect; Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady; Aretha Franklin - Think; Barry White - Can't Get Enough Of Your Love; Barry White - First, Last, My Everything; Beyonce' - Crazy In Love; Beyonce' - Single Ladies; Blue Magic - I Just Don't Want To Be Lonely; Blue Magic - Side Show; Blue Magic - Stop To Start; Bobby Brown - Don't Be Cruel; Bobby Brown - Every Little Step; Bobby Brown - My Prerogative; Bobby Womack - Harry Hippie; Bobby Womack -If You Think You're Lonely Now; Bobby Womack - Looking For Love; Bobby Womack - Nobody Wants You; Bobby Womack - That's The Way I Feel About You; Chic - I Want Your Love; Cupid - Cupid Shuffle; Jazz Band - Whip It; Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further; Donna Summer - Bad Girls; Donna Summer - Dim The Lights; Dona Summer - Hard For The Money; Donna Summer - Hot Stuff; Earth, Wind, &Fire - In The Stone; Earth, Wind, &Fire - Lets Groove Tonight; Earth, Wind, &Fire - On Your Face; Earth, Wind, &Fire - September; Earth, Wind, &Fire - Shining Star; Eddie Floyd - Knock On Wood; Ella Mai – Boo’d Up; Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love; Emotions - Ain't No Sunshine; Emotions - Best Of My Love; Emotions - I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love; En Vogue- Hold On; En Vogue - Never Gonna Get It; Evelyn Champagne King - I’m' In Love; Evelyn Champagne King - Shame; Excape - Tonight; Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry; For Real - You Don't Know Nothing; Four Tops - Baby I Need Your Loving; Four Tops - Reach Out; Four Tops - Same Old Song; Four Tops - Standing In The Shadows Of Love; Frankie Beverly &Maze - Before I Let Go; Frankie Beverly &Maze - Running Awa; Gladys Knight & The Pips - Heard It Through The Grapevine; Gladys Knight & The Pips - Love Overboard; Gladys Knight & The Pips - Midnight Train To Georgia; Gladys Knight & The Pips - Neither One Of Us; Gladys Knight &The Pips - You're The Best Thing; Gloria Gaynor - I Wil Survive; Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing; Isley Brothers - Voyage To Atlantis; Isley Brothers - Who's That Lady; Jackie More - This Time Baby; James Brown - Funky Good Time; James -Living In America; James Brown - Sex Machine; Jeffery Osborne - Back In Love; Katy Perry - Fireworks; Katy Perry - Hot &Cold; Kc &The Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight; Kc &The Sunshine Band - Shake Your Booty; Kc &The Sunshine Band - That's The Way I Like It; Keri Hilson - Pretty Girl Rock; Kool &The Gang - Celebration; Kool &The Gang - Fresh; Kool &The Gang - Funky Stuff; Kool &The Gang - Get Down Tonight; Kool &The Gang - Hollywood Swinging; Kool &The Gang - Jungle Boogie; Kool &The Gang - Ladies Night; Kool & The Gang - Tonight; Kool &The Gang - Victory; Lady Gaga - Born This Way; Lady Gaga - Just Dance; Lady Gaga - Poker Face; Lakeside - All The Way Live; Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage; Larry Graham - Just Be My Lady; Larry Graham - One In A Million; Lionel Ritchie - Al Night Long; Luther Vandross - Here And Now; Luther Vandross - I'd Rather; Luther Vandross - Love The One You're With; Luther Vandross-Never Too Much; Marcia Griffith - Electric Slide; Martha Reeves &The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street; Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Heat Wave; Martha Reeves &The Vandellas - Jimmy Mack; Marvin Gaye - Ain’t' No Mountain High Enough; Marvin Gaye - Ain’t' Nothing Like The Real Thing; Marvin Gaye - Heard It Through The Grapevine; Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On; Marvin Gaye - Pride &Joy; Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing; Marvin Gaye - Stubborn Kind Of Fella; Mary J Blige - Just Fine; Mary Blige - Let’s Get Crump; Michael Jackson - Billie Jean; Michael Jackson - Shake Your Body To The Ground; Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel; Michael Jackson - Thriller; Michael Jackson - You Wanna Be Starting Something; Montel Jordan - This Is How We Do It; Natalie Cole - This Wil Be; Natalie Cole - Unforgettable; Ohio Players - Fire; Ohio Players - Roller Coaster; Ohio Players - Skintight; Outkast - Hey Ya; Outkast - I Like The Way You Move; Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Not; Patrice Rushen - Haven't You Heard; Patti Labelle - Right Kinda Lover; Patti Labelle - Talk About Love; Patti Labelle - You Are My Friend; Peabo Bryson - Did You Ever Know; Peabo Bryson - My Heart Belongs To You; Prince - 1999(2009); Prince - Controversy; Prince - I Wanna Be Your Love; R. Kelly -Feeling Single; Rhianna - Only Girl In The World; Rhianna - Please Don't Stop The Music; Rick James - Give It To Me Baby; Rick James - Super Freak; Rick James-You And I; Sam &Dave - Hold On, I’m Coming Sam &Dave - Soul Man; Sam & Dave-You Don't Know Like I Know; Sister Sledge - We Are Family; Smokie Robinson - Tracks Of My Tears; Spinners – Could It Be I’m Falling In Love; Spinners - I’ll Be Around; Spinners - Sadie; Staple Singers - I’ll Take You There; Stephanie Mills - I Never Knew Love; Stevie Wonder - Al I Do; Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered; Stevie Wonder - Superstition; Supremes - Baby Love; Supremes - Back In My Arms Again Supremes - Can't Hurry Love; Supremes - Come See About Me; Supremes - Stop In The Name Of Love; Supremes - Upside Down; Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go; Taste Of Honey - Boogie Oogie; Teena Marie - Lover Girl; Teena Marie - Square Biz; The Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling; The Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get Started; The Blues Brothers - Shout; The Chi-Lites - A Letter To Myself; The Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her; The Chi-Lites - Oh Girl; The Commodores - Brickhouse; The Commodores - Easy; The Delfonics - Break Your Promise; The Delfonics - Didn't I Blow Your Mind; The Delfonics - La La Means I Love; The Gap Band - Burn Rubber; The Gap Band - Drop The Bomb; The Gap Band - Early In The Morning; The Gap Band - Outstanding; The J A C K S O N 5 – Beat It; The Jackson 5- Dancing Machine; The Jackson 5 - I want You Back; The Jackson 5 - The Love You Save; The Jones Girls - Who Can I Run Too; The Moments - Love On A Two-Way Street; The O'Jays - Backstabbers; The O'Jays - I Love Music; The Pointer Sisters - I'm So Excited; The Stylistics - Betcha By Golly, Wow; The Stylistics - Break Up To Make Up; The Stylistics - Daddy's Little Girl; The Stylistics - Stone In Love With You; The Stylistics - Stop, Look, Listen; The Stylistics - You Are Everything; The Temptations - I Wish It Would Rain; The Temptations - I’m Losing You; The Temptations - My Girl; The Temptations - My Lady Soul; The Temptations - Since I Lost My Baby; The Temptations - Stay; The Temptations - The Way You Do The Things You Do; The Temptations - This Is My Promise

Jazz, Big Band, Swing

Bobby Darin – Mack The Knife; Dave Brubeck – Take Five; Duke Ellington – Satin Doll; Duke Ellington – Take The “A” Train; Errol Garner – Misty; Etta James – At Last; Frank Sinatra – Fly Me To The Moon; Frank Sinatra – New York, New York; Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight; Grover Washington – Mr. Magic; Kem– I Can’t Stop Loving You; Kem- Why Would You Stay; Lou Rawls- Stormy Monday; Lou Rawls- You Gonna Miss My Lovin; Oleta Adams- Get Here; Ray Charles- Georgia On My Mind; Sade- By Your Side

Beach Music

Impressions – I’m So Proud; Impressions – It’s Alright; Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted; Lenny Williams – Ten Ways Of Loving You; Lou Rawls – You’re Gonna Miss My Loving; Part Time Party Band – Part Time Party Man; The Drifters – Lil Red Book; The Drifters – Under The Boardwalk; The Drifters – Up On The Roof; The Platters – Great Pretender; The Platters – Only You; The Platters – Smoke Gets In Your Eyes; The Showmen – 39-21-40 Shape; The Tams – Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy; The Tams – I Been Hurt; The Tramps – Hold Back The Night; The Tyme – Ms. Grace; Chairman Of The Board – Carolina Girl; Chairman Of The Board – Give Me Just A Little More Time; Clarence Carter – Strokin; Embers – I Love Beach Music; Impressions – I’m So Proud; Impressions – It’s Alright; Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted; Lenny Williams – Ten Ways Of Loving You; Lou Rawls – You’re Gonna Miss My Loving; Part Time Party Band – Part Time Party Man; The Drifters – Lil Red Book; The Drifters – Under The Boardwalk; The Drifters – Up On The Roof; The Platters – Great Pretender; The Platters – Only You; The Platters – Smoke Gets In Your Eyes; The Showmen – 39-21-40 Shape; The Tams – Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy; The Tams – I Been Hurt; The Tramps – Hold Back The Night; The Tyme – Ms. Grace

Country & Bluegrass

Allison Krauss – You Say Nothing At All; Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight; Joe Cocker – You Are So Beautiful; Kenny Rogers – Crazy; Kenny Rogers – Through The Years; Lynyrd Skynyrd – Simple Man; Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl; ; ; Beach Music; Chairman Of The Board – Carolina Girl; Chairman Of The Board – Give Me Just A Little More Time; Clarence Carter – Strokin’; Embers – I Love

About The Amazing Johnny White

Johnny White learned the foundation of being a good entertainer early in his career. He demonstrates his showmanship when Johnny White & The Elite Band performed at the 6th Annual NC Juneteenth Celebration in downtown Durham.

From as far back as he can remember, Johnny performed at various talent shows. Even in elementary school, his resume for entering talent competitions was vast and had grown even longer by age 14. In high school, as a trumpet player, he initiated a band named “The Fabulous Flames,” a spin-off of James Brown’s “The Famous Flames.” Alongside a sax player, a trombone player, three horns (known as the rhythm section), a drummer, a lead guitar, a bass player, and two beautiful female singers, Johnny contributed his trumpet skills.

After forming the band, Johnny’s father encouraged him to attend a showcase in Charlotte to scope out the competition. At the competition, he learned about Ted Hall with Hit Attractions, the Rolls Royce of booking agents and the event's sponsor. Johnny reached out to Ted, who instructed him to come to Charlotte for an audition. Consequently, he and his band auditioned and were booked.

For nearly three years, “The Fabulous Flames” toured extensively, relishing the experience until Johnny graduated from high school. Despite the band's successful travels, his father insisted he pursue college. Consequently, the group disbanded, and Johnny attended North Carolina College at Durham, now North Carolina Central University, on a full scholarship, majoring in his passion, Music.

Johnny’s passion for music persisted. In his freshman year, he met Willie “Papa” Stone, a college employee searching for an addition to the “Shamrocks,” a band consisting of professionals he managed. Johnny joined the band, marking the beginning of his career as a singer and the sole student in the group. During his tenure, Johnny acquired the foundational skills of a great entertainer, learning to be a sharp dresser, keep his shoes polished, deliver a compelling visual performance, and, most importantly, be punctual and attend to business. After his time with the “Shamrocks,” Johnny, in his sophomore year, established his own band, “The Lee Darvis Orchestra,” dedicated to a group member. The band featured 5 horns, 2 saxophones, a trumpet, a trombone, a guitar, a bass, drums, and a keyboard, with Johnny as the frontman.

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