Wild antics and tap dancing might seem odd for achieving fame, but Jesco White has made it work most extraordinarily.
Today, let me introduce you to the raw, untamed spirit of the dancing honky-tonk outlaw.
Who Is Jesco White?
Born in 1956 in Boone County, West Virginia, Jesco White is an American cult figure and Appalachian legend. He gained notoriety through the 1991 PBS documentary “The Dancing Outlaw,” which introduced the world to his “hillbilly tap dancing” and colorful way of speaking.
Jesco credits his talent to his adoptive father, D. Ray White, a renowned mountain dancer. He usually performs bluegrass and Elis Presley songs.
His troubled youth was marked by reckless behavior, legal troubles, an undiagnosed personality disorder, and struggles with addiction.
Jesco White’s Cultural Impact and Media Depictions
Despite, or perhaps because of, his controversial life, Jesco White has become a unique figure in pop culture. Several documentaries have been produced about him and his family, including:
- “Dancing Outlaw” by Jacob Young (1991)
- “Dancing Outlaw II: Jesco Goes to Hollywood” by Jacob Young (1999)
- “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia” by Julien Nitzberg (2009)
Jesco’s reach extends into popular media as well. In Grand Theft Auto V, he voices the DJ in Rebel Radio and spawns as a fun in-game easter egg.
Players can spot him in the North Alamo Pier area tap-dancing to an Ozark Mountain Daredevils tune playing on a boombox. You can also hear short overdubs of him singing along, as he does during live performances.
In addition, Jesco appeared in the music video for Beck’s “Loser” and did the voice of Ga-Ga-Pee-Pap Cuyler for the adult animated sitcom “Squidbillies.” He even had a guest spot on the comedy series “Roseanne,” playing Dan’s clog-dancing, Elvis-impersonating cousin.
The 2009 movie “White Lightnin'” by Dominic Murphy was inspired by his life. He had a cameo role in Logan Lucky (2017) and a bonus clip of him dancing on a table.
Jesco has also been immortalized in music. Several artists have paid tribute to him and his family with songs, such as:
- “D. Ray White” by Hank Williams III
- “Jessico” by The Kentucky Headhunters
- “Jesco: The Dancing Outlaw” by Sam Black Church
- “Jesco” by Trailer Bride
- “Dancing Outlaw” by Ekoostik Hookah
Exciting Facts About Jesco White
Below are some amusing, sometimes sad, tidbits about Jesco White:
- A massive fan of Elvis Presley, Jesco collected $50,000 worth of Elvis memorabilia but lost it all in a house fire. The incident sent him into depression.
- Johnny Knoxville and MTV produced the “The Wild and Wonderful Whites” documentary. They bailed him out of jail after a drug-related arrest just as filming wrapped up.
- Jesco has a tattoo on his back featuring Elvis Presley and Charles Manson.
- One of his most famous quotes, “I’m tired of eatin’ sloppy, slimy eggs,” is a jab at his wife’s cooking.
- His MySpace page, jescorama3000, describes him as the “King of the Wild Mountain Dancers” and “Appalachian Shaman.”
- Jesco is skilled in woodburning plaques and hand-carving canes, many of which he created for his late mother, Bertie Mae White.
- He has an Instagram page, thereal_jescowhite, where he sells custom wood-burned art.
- Most of the songs that mention him did so without his permission, nor did he receive compensation for them.
- Jesco has an idea for a movie about his life: Sheriff Elvis and several bounty hunters go after Big & Rich for stealing his excellent name.
Final Thoughts
Despite his talents, Jesco White often feels exploited by those profiting from his name because of his lack of education. Nevertheless, he hasn’t lost his sense of humor and good nature.
You might even catch him tap-dancing at one of the watering holes in Boone County for his fans.
