MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The music world mourned the loss of Memphis native and Earth, Wind and Fire founder Maurice White.
He died at his home in Los Angeles Wednesday night.
“My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep,” Verdine White, also a member of the band, told The Associated Press on Thursday. “While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.”
Mr. White had suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, which kept him from performing with his group in later years, but he leaves behind an amazing musical legacy.
Mr. White was considered a musical genius giving fans songs such as “Shining Star,” “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Can’t Hide Love,” and “That’s the Way of the World,” just to name a few.
He was born in Memphis in 1941, the son of a doctor and grandson of a new Orleans piano player.
He attended Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis and showed promise as a talented young musician.
He later backed Muddy Waters, the Impressions and others and worked as a session drummer in Chicago.
He also performed with the Ramsey Lewis Trio.
Mr. White went on to form Earth, Wind & Fire and the group sold more than 90 million albums which featured his vocals, along with Philip Bailey’s falsetto, the band’s legendary horn driven sound and its flashy costumes and mind-blowing live concerts.
Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
Legendary Memphis song writer David Porter and Mr. White were close friends.
“Maurice and I were raised on the same street on E.H. Crump Boulevard and Third street. He saw what he wanted to contribute through music and he was able to deliver on that, very few people are able to take vision and make it become respected all over the world, he’s one of those few individuals. He could make music talk to you in a way that was so uniquely and powerful,” Porter said.
Mr. White also produced hits for Barbra Streisand, Cher and co-wrote and produced the Emotions’ hit song “Best of My Love.”
Maurice White was 74-years-old.
