After his passing in 1979, Charles White’s images would still be used to illustrate record sleeves. To this end, the sleeve of a 1981 release, Love Byrd, by Donald Bryd and 125th Street, N.Y.C., featured a work by White. The piece in question was Silent Song #2 (Nocturne), 1969, an etching on heavy cream wove paper, measuring 324 x 351 mm. On the sleeve notes, the illustration (here untitled) was credited to White, though no other details were given. Though Silent Song #2 (Nocturne) dated from 1969, beneath the bottom left corner of the image their appeared a small copyright symbol followed by 1961 Heritage Gallery. At the time of the release of Love Byrd, all bar a very small number of the records featuring illustrations by White had been released on the Vanguard label.

Musician Donald Byrd had been one of the stars and friends who participated in a celebration of White's life and work, that took place shortly after his passing, at the Kinsey Auditorium of Los Angeles' Museum of Science and Industry. Byrd and his band performed at the event.