Fred White, a veteran drummer, died on January 1 at the age of 67. He rose to prominence as a member of the American rock band Earth Wind and Fire . Verdine White, Fred’s brother and band member showed his sadness by uploading a few images on Instagram and commenting that their family cannot convey their terrible loss. He went on to say that Fred is now in paradise alongside Maurice, Monte, and Ronald.
“Child prodigy, member of the EWF ORIGINAL 9, with gold records at the age of 16!” He was the fourth child in the family. But, more than that, he was the lovely bro who was constantly amusing and deliciously naughty at home and everywhere!”
Verdine went on to say that Fred White was one of those people who could convert a terrible situation into a good one. He ended the statement by saying the late drummer “will remain in [their] hearts forever” and thanking him for his “love, blessings, and support” throughout the years.
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Fred White rose to prominence as a member of Earth, Wind, and Fire.
Fred White was a founding member of Earth, Wind & Fire. Since its inception, the band has gone through various lineup changes and replacements. Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson, B. David Whitworth, Myron McKinley, John Paris, Philip Doron Bailey, Morris O’Connor, and Serg Dimitrijevic are among the current members.
The band’s first album, Earth, Wind & Fire, was released in February 1971 and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums list. It had seven hits and earned great feedback from reviewers worldwide. In November 1971, they released their second album, The Need for Love. Last Days and Time, the band’s next album, was published on Columbia Records. They continued on their great path with albums such as Head to the Sky, Open Our Eyes, Another Time, That’s the Way of the World, Gratitude, Spirit, and others.
Singles from their albums were universally adored by fans, with some of them reaching the top of several Billboard charts. The band has also appeared at events such as the Music for UNICEF Concert. They also put out compilation CDs such as The Ultimate Collection and The Essential Earth, Wind, and Fire.
In March 2000, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and they were also invited to a White House state dinner that year. The next year, a biographical documentary based on the band, Shining Stars: The Official Story Of Earth, Wind & Fire, was produced. After an eight-year hiatus, the band returned in September 2013 with their 20th album, Now, Then & Forever. In honor of the band, the Los Angeles City Council established September 21 Earth, Wind, and Fire Day in September 2019. The ensemble has embarked on multiple tours, the most recent of which took place last year in 2022.
