Kitty White, who sang "Crawfish" as a duet with Elvis Presley in the 1958 film “King Creole” died. Professionally known as Kitty White, the performer died of complications from a stroke on Aug. 11 at Palm Springs Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. She was 86 years old.
The news was released by The Desert Sun, Palm Springs California. During White's career she recorded songs for Capitol, Emarcy and Mercury records. She performed and recorded with jazz artists Laurindo Almeida, Red Callendar, Buddy Collette and Ben Webster. And her music was featured on the soundtracks of 1950s films including “Kiss Me Deadly” and “Night of the Hunter,” in addition to the Presley film.
“Mother said he (Presley) was a really nice young man,” said Bonnie White-Mitchell, White's eldest child. “She had a true love of music and a genuine love of people,” Stagg said. But White's biggest love was right in her home. She was there when her children came home from school and cooked dinner for them, Stagg said.
“My mom always loved to perform but it was a means to an end,” she said. “She wasn't interested in becoming famous. She loved to perform but she loved her family more.” Services for White took place Aug. 18 at the Palm Springs Seventh Day Adventist Church. She was preceded in death by her ex-husband Edward White and second husband, Richard Henry Lee. She is survived by five children, all of whom live in Southern California: Bonnie White- Mitchell, Edward White Jr., Lisa White, Loret Stagg and Richard Lee; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.