Posted on 01/02/2023 11:18:29 PM PST by nickcarraway
Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White has died, the band and White’s brother, Verdine, announced yesterday (January 1). No cause of death was given. Fred White was 67.
White was a drum prodigy, touring with the likes of Donny Hathaway before finishing high school (including in the show immortalized on Donny Hathaway Live) and joining his siblings in Earth, Wind & Fire before his 20th birthday. His arrival in the band in 1974 installed him in the twin-drummer engine room of a hitmaking powerhouse; the band’s commercial heyday began a year later with “Shining Star,” a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. With a mix of rousing ballads and body-moving soul, Earth, Wind & Fire became pop figureheads of the disco era. Songs like 1976’s “Saturday Nite” established the band as a transatlantic success even before “September” and “Boogie Wonderland” caused international sensations later in the decade.
White left the group in the early 1980s but returned for their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2000. He continued to sing with artists including Diana Ross and Bonnie Raitt, most recently on Ross’ 2021 comeback album.
On Instagram, Verdine White wrote that his sibling “joins our brothers Maurice, Monte, and Ronald in heaven and is now drumming with the angels.” He continued:
Child protégé, member of the EWF ORIGINAL 9, with gold records at the young age of 16 years old!
He was brother number 4 in the family lineup. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
But more than that at home and beyond he was the wonderful bro that was always entertaining and delightfully mischievous!
And we could always count on him to make a seemingly bad situation more light hearted!🙏🏾😍🙏🏾
He will live in our hearts forever, rest in power beloved Freddie!!
RIP Mr. White. Thanks for the music.
And someone answered, "Back then, black people were taught right from wrong."
Eww...I’m 75!!!
I always thought Gratitude to be their best album. Turn it up on a good hi-fi and get ready to smile!
RIP. I remember blasting ‘Serpentine Fire’ from the speakers of my ‘73 VW Super Beetle. Good times.
“Fantasy” and “Fall in Love With Me” were my favorites from Earth Wind and Fire. RIP.
Love Earth, Wind and Fire! Every one of their songs brings back a flood of memories
My favorite…”Getaway”. Syncopated horn section. Brilliant
I got to see them this past summer. What a terrific show. Every song was a hit. I’ve never had so much fun in my life. Truly a pleasure.
IIRC, they opened with Shining Star.
Rest in peace, Fred. Thanks for all the music and the memories.
Motown Records hired a woman named Maxine Powell to work with each artist to teach them manners, etiquette and class.
Earth, Wind and Fire was not Motown but they walked in the same concept, exuding class.
Most of the Motown artists seem to have taken to those lessons well.
Even more precisely than that, it was because almost all of the early R&B singers were raised in the church and were heavily influenced by the beautiful Gospel Music they grew up with. I'm betting statistically you would be able to draw a pretty strong correlation between the time church attendance began to drop sometime in the 1970's to the decline of good R&B in particular when these children came of age.
Thanks for adding a great comment.
There’s a girl at work named Fantasy. Yes, that’s her actual name. Sometimes the muzak plays EW&F ‘Fantasy’, and I tell this girl that’s her theme song.
RIP.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.