By Michael Butler

A Grammy-award winning singer and songwriter with millions of records sold is coming to Tallassee. Bryan White will play at the historic Mount Vernon Performing Arts Center on Friday night.

White was a staple on the radio airwaves in the 1990s producing 21 hit records. His duet with Shania Twain, “From this Moment On,” is featured on the most successful album of all time by a female artist and still a wedding favorite.

“That’s the one I hear on aisle nine of the grocery store. If I go to Japan, it’s playing on the radio,” White said. “I got an actual phone call from Shania and Mutt Lange. They said they loved my voice and wanted me to be a part of it. They had a giant studio at Lake Placid. I spent about three days with them. We worked hard on it.”

White has charted six number one records including “Rebecca Lynn,” which he calls one of his personal favorites. He also has written several hits for other artists.

“I was really fortunate to have a lot of songs recorded by people. I wrote a hit for Diamond Rio called “Imagine That” back in the 90s. That song is on a Leann Rimes record. I sang on her record as well as Wynonna (Judd), Joe Diffie, quite a few. It’s just a blessing. There’s nothing more flattering than when another artist records one of your songs.”

White recently learned of the history of the old Mount Vernon Theater where Hank Williams once performed.

“That’s really cool. We go to Destin for vacation and we stop at the gravesite. I produced a record for a guy from Georgia a few years ago. We recorded “Hey Good Lookin’.” I’m a huge Hank fan, such an admirer from a songwriter perspective too.”

White is from Oklahoma. His wife, Erika (Page) is an actress.

“We’ve been married for 25 years,” he said. “Of all places, I met my wife at L.A. for a benefit. We didn’t realize that we grew up about an hour and half from each other. She grew up in Tulsa. I grew up in Oklahoma City.”

That element brings another tie to Tallassee through the Trail of Tears. “Thlopthlocco Tribal Town,” a documentary featuring descendants from Tallassee now residing in Oklahoma, played at the Mount Vernon in July of last year.

“My wife was adopted when she was about five days old,” White said. “She just found her biological parents about two years ago. Her mother is on the roll. My wife is Cherokee.”

White balances family life with his wife and two kids with touring.

“Since September, we’ve embarked on doing this theater tour. It seems to be growing. This storyteller, acoustic concept has really blown up for us.”

Doors will open at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20. The show begins at 7. For ticket information, visit the Mount Vernon Performing Arts Center website or call: 614-414-6899.