Barrence Whitfield, born Barry White on June 13, 1955, in Jacksonville, Florida, is an American soul and R&B vocalist, known for leading Barrence Whitfield & the Savages. Raised in East Orange, New Jersey, he sang in a gospel choir and played in various bands during high school.

In 1977, Whitfield moved to Boston for journalism studies at Boston University. While working at a record shop, he was discovered by musician Peter Greenberg. To avoid confusion with singer Barry White, he adopted the stage name Barrence Whitfield. His band, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages, gained fame for their explosive performances and Whitfield's powerful vocal style. Their 1984 debut album received critical acclaim, followed by "Dig Yourself" in 1985. They toured the UK after DJ Andy Kershaw promoted them.

The band's 1987 UK release, "Call of the Wild," later expanded and retitled "Ow! Ow! Ow!" in the US, led to extensive tours. Whitfield earned seven Boston Music Awards and shared stages with Bo Diddley and Tina Turner. The late '80s saw the release of "Live Emulsified" and "Let's Lose It."

In the 1990s, Whitfield collaborated on tribute albums and with Tom Russell. He recorded "Ritual of the Savages" and performed with The Movers. He continued touring and contributed to the 2007 film "Honeydripper."

Reuniting with Greenberg in 2010, Whitfield released "Savage Kings." Signing with Bloodshot Records, he issued "Dig Thy Savage Soul" (2013), "Under the Savage Sky" (2015), and "Soul Flowers of Titan" (2018). In 2019, he released "Songs from the Sun Ra Cosmos," featuring unique covers of Sun Ra's compositions.