Chester City officials celebrated Avery*Sunshine Day on Friday and named a street after the homegrown Grammy Award winner, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.
Also known as Denise Nicole White, Sunshine has had global success and won the Grammy Award in 2025 for Best Progressive R& B Album with “So Glad to Know You.”
The 50-year-old began playing piano at age 8 and was studying classical and jazz music by age 13. Her voice was first heard at home on West Seventh Street in Chester, performing for her parents.
“During her formative years, she attended St. Daniels, where her powerful and inspiring voice was first nurtured and discovered,” said Chester Mayor Stefan Roots, reading from a proclamation.
White attended the street sign unveiling, holding back tears.
“It was worth every piano lesson, and every time Mommy stuck her head through the side, with the curling irons, saying ‘you ain’t playing it right,’ it is worth every second,” she said.
White thanked the more than 100 supporters who turned out.
She acknowledged her connection to Chester and said every time she walked onto hundreds of stages across six continents, she carried Chester with her.
Read more of Avery*Sunshine’s connections to Chester in the Daily Times.
