Barry White says 'I'm fine'; denies sick rumors

Jet, Dec 11, 1995

Barry White recently denied rumors that he has brain cancer or an exotic tropical disease of some sort.

"I'm fine," the singer told James T. Jones IV of USA Today.

Rumors began to run rampant concerning White's health when he trimmed 53 pounds from his 300-pound frame. They persisted even further when he was suddenly hospitalized recently.

"I was just tired from working. I've been running for almost 15 months straight (touring)," said the deep, baritone-voiced singer. "[The doctor] told me not to work so hard. That was the end of it."

The 51-year-old singer, who admits to dieting, said he was checked for tropical infections since he had spent so much time overseas. Everything was fine.

White, no stranger to rumors, was once mistaken for dead when his brother died years ago.

"[People] were sending telegrams and letters. I don't know why people don't get their facts straight first," said White, who's working on ads for Prodigy, Bud Light and Jeep. The "Maestro" is also at work on his next album.