THE CHANGIN’ TIMES OF IKE WHITE

Filmmaker Dan Vernon and Producer Vivienne Perry track down virtuoso musician Ike White, who made an extraordinary journey from life behind bars to industry adulation before he vanished.

Ike played in a San Quentin prison band, with his talent reaching the ears of legendary producer Jerry Goldstein, who believed Ike was the next Jimi Hendrix. Goldstein persuaded the Prison Governor to allow a recording studio into the jail and they created an album that’s viewed as lost classic of soul and funk - Changin’ Times. A huge campaign led to Ike's release but then he disappeared.

The filmmakers spent 18 months searching for Ike before finding him hiding out using a pseudonym in San Diego, California. Vernon spent the week with Ike, who shared his incredible story of one man’s battle to retain his humanity in America’s most notorious prison.

In this compelling film, Vernon pieces together the many versions of Ike, finding a trail of wives, lives and identities.

Arena: The Changin’ Times of Ike White (1 x 77) is an Erica Starling film. It was commissioned for BBC Arts and BBC Four by Mark Bell. Dan Vernon is the Director. Vivienne Perry is the Producer. Rachel Hooper is the Producer for Erica Starling. Alison Millar is the Executive Producer.