by Michael P Coleman
October must be Diva Month in Sacramento.
Last week, it was Janet Jackson in concert. This Thursday, Karyn White’s new film, Gale & The Storm, is premiering at the Tower Theatre, and White will be there to answer questions and meet her fans.
Yes, THE Karyn White.
White exploded onto the music scene in the late 80s with hits like “Secret Rendezvous,” “The Way You Love Me,” and the Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit “Romantic.” One of her signature hits, “Superwoman,” was covered by the legendary Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, and Dionne Warwick. In this writer’s humble opinion, and with no disrespect to those ladies, White singlehandedly out sang all three of them.
“That song was the great separator,” White joked by phone of her breakout hit. “I had been compared to Janet [Jackson] and Jody [Watley], so when I came out with that [song], that was an anthem. I was really blessed to get “Superwoman” — it took me to a whole other level.”
Just a few years later, in the late 90s, White walked away from the music industry for almost two decades to raise her daughter. Today, at 51, she is launching the next phase of her career with her own production company and her first feature film project, Gale & The Storm.
The film was shot entirely in Sacramento, a city with which White has a special connection.
“I really consider Sacramento my home town,” the R & B legend shared. “I lived there for 12 years. Sacramento has shown me so much love, and I have solid relationships with friends and family there. People who see the film will recognize several Sacramento locations.”
Gale & The Storm is described as a “feel good movie” that takes viewers on a “journey of the heart…where determination can lead you anywhere.” The movie is loosely based on White’s life and career, with White portraying a singer whose dedication and resolve are tested by a variety of music industry forces, including her band’s leader (and long time lover), Julian. Will she walk away from him — and the music industry — for good?
This movie sounds like an Empire-esque must-see!
“I want people to leave the film and be inspired to live and to dream,” White said. “It’s a good ‘come back’ story. Dreams don’t have an expiration date. I’ll be 52 on October 14, and I feel like I’m really just beginning again! I hope people will overcome their fears and find the courage to go against the system and believe in themselves. I hope they’ll be encouraged and not let their past mistakes define them. That’s a big one: forgiving yourself.”
Tickets for the Gale & The Storm’s October 12th world premiere at the Tower Theatre are only $20 and are being sold exclusively at karynwhite.me. Additional information on the film is available at galeandthestorm.com.
Connect with Sacramento-based freelancer Michael P Coleman at www.michaelpcoleman.com or follow him on Twitter: @ColemanMichaelP.
