White was born in England in 1949. He started playing drums when he was thirteen. In the 1960s he played with artists such as Billy Fury, Alan Price and Ginger Baker. In 1969, John Lennon asked him to join his Plastic Ono Band, where he played on the albums Live Peace in Toronto and Imagine. Through Lennon, White came into contact with George Harrison, whom he assisted as drummer on the album All Things Must Pass†
His career with Yes began in July 1972, replacing Bill Bruford who had left the band. He was able to go on tour right away and has been Yes’s regular drummer ever since.
In the Netherlands, Yes scored hits like roundabout (1972) and Owner of a Lonely Heart (1983).