LaBarbera Whites Back to Columbia

WHITES IS BACK: Longtime industry exec Ms. Teresa LaBabera Whites returns to Columbia Records as SVP A&R, it was announced by CRG President Ashley Newton. LaBarbera Whites rejoins the label from Jive Records, where as SVP A&R, she oversaw recordings by Britney Spears, P!nk and the Backstreet Boys, among others. She was the executive producer of Spears’ platinum Circus album in 2008. During her first stint at Columbia, she signed Destiny’s Child and helped launch Beyoncé’s solo career, including her debut, Dangerously in Love, which won five Grammys. The Texas native began her career two decades ago as a regional A&R scout for Sony Music. She first met Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland when they were nine and 10, respectively, then nurtured the career of a 17-year-old Jessica Simpson. LaBarbera Whites is the founder and CEO of her own BellaSonic Records and lives in Texas, dividing her time between the East and West Coasts. Over the course of her career, projects she’s helmed have sold more than 80 million records worldwide. (1/11p)