José Silvestre de los Dolores White Lafitte (1835–1918) was a Cuban violinist, composer, and educator.

José Silvestre de los Dolores White Lafitte, also known as José White, was born in Matanzas, Cuba to Charles (Carlos) White of French heritage and Afro-Cuban María Ecolástica Laffite. He began his musical studies at the age of five with his father. Showcasing undeniable talent, he was taken under the mentorship of Afro-Cuban violinist José Miguel Román and Belgian musician Pedro Haserf (Lecerff). By the time he was nineteen years old, White Laffite knew how to play sixteen instruments.

In March 1854, he played his first concert at the Teatro Principal de Matanzas with the American pianist Louis Moreau Gottschalk. Gottschalk helped raise money to send him to study at the Paris Conservatory in 1855. In his first year of study White Lafitte won the Paris Conservatory First Grand Prize in violin. He returned to Cuba in 1858 due to his father’s illness, where he continued to perform and perfect his art.

Between 1861 and 1874, White Laffite lived in Paris as a successful violin soloist and chamber musician. During this time, he became heavily involved with the Parisian classical music scene and cofounded three chamber ensembles. White Lafitte was also an educator, co-teaching a course in chamber ensemble and teaching private violin classes.

White Laffite was a recognized musician during his life and performed globally. In 1875, he performed twice with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, becoming the first soloist of African descent. From 1877 to 1879 he traveled through Latin America before settling in Brazil. While there, White Laffite was appointed head of the Imperial Conservatory in Rio de Janeiro (1879-1889) and worked as a musician for the court of Brazilian Emperor Pedro II.

The violinist always gave homage to his Cuban homeland. The thirty-two compositions created by White Laffite reflect both the romantic era and the rhythms of Cuba. His most well-known song is “Le Bella Cubana.” White Laffite ‘s final visit to the island was in 1875 when he performed alongside his friend Cuban pianist Ignacio Cervantes. Both were vocal in their support of the Cuban Liberation Army. White Laffite even supported them financially through his concert earnings. The Spanish authorities found out and exiled both musicians shortly thereafter.

José Silvestre de los Dolores White returned to Paris in the winter of 1889, where he resided until his death in 1918.

View Objects Relating to José White in the NMAAHC Collection