That's funny, Gumby, I've been listening to his music ever since I saw your thread - his music is really good, pretty, pleasant, and I remember a lot of it now that I'm reminded; but I hear nothing that would suggest to me that he is black or that his music was influenced by other black music - but what do I know?
I can't remember the artists at the moment, but I've been equally surprised upon learning that one or two other singers that I loved were not black.
So funny, but ain't music great?