Booker T. Washington "Bukka" White, born on November 12, 1906, near Houston, Mississippi, was a prominent American Delta blues guitarist and singer. He was a first cousin to blues legend B.B. King, with their mothers being sisters. White's father, John White, was a musician who introduced him to the guitar at a young age. Bukka White began his musical career playing the fiddle at square dances and later moved to the Mississippi Delta, where he was influenced by Charley Patton.

In 1930, White recorded his first songs with Victor Records in Memphis, Tennessee, under the name Washington White. He gained attention with his recordings of "Pinebluff Arkansas" and "Shake 'Em On Down" in 1937. However, his career was interrupted when he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, where he recorded for folklorist Alan Lomax.

After his release, White continued to record and perform, becoming a significant figure in the blues revival of the 1960s. He was known for his powerful slide guitar technique and expressive vocals. White's influence extended to his cousin B.B. King and other musicians. His notable works include "Parchman Farm Blues" and "Fixin' to Die Blues," the latter of which was posthumously inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012.

Bukka White passed away from cancer on February 26, 1977, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1990, cementing his legacy as a key figure in the history of American blues music.