Background
White was born in Oakland, California, and was raised in New York, where she studied jazz dance.
White was born in Oakland, California, and was raised in New York, where she studied jazz dance.
While in high school she took up acting and singing, then studied at the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London from 1969 to 1971. She traveled for some time, then studied under Lennie Tristano and Warne Marsh.
Late in the 1970s she began working with trumpeter Manny Duran, and the two together co-led a band which recorded for Stash Records. She also provided the vocals to the ending theme, "Can"t Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (composed by Rika Muranaka), for the video game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. She was noted for her scat singing abilities.
On May 9, 2007, Carla died peacefully at her home in New York after a long battle with cancer.