George HaffendenBreaking news this morning that Maurice White, founder of the super-group Earth, Wind & Fire, has passed away at the age of 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
As 2016 rumbles forward we’re sad to bring you more devastating news that the founder of Earth, Wind & Fire Maurice White has passed away at the age of 74. White was a true music visionary in leading the group as well as writing and producing many of their hit records. Under his leadership Earth, Wind & Fire won six Grammy’s, and were inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Born in 1941 in Memphis, Tennessee White first started out as a session musician for Chess Records in Chicago, before performing with the Ramsey Lewis Trio. By the early seventies he had relocated to Los Angeles and began to lay the foundations for what would become one of the biggest bands of the seventies and eighties. In 1971 Earth, Wind & Fire was born with their self-titled debut release and two years later they had their first hit with the beautiful ‘Keep Your Head To The Sky‘, marking their arrival on the music scene and the development of their soul-funk sound.
(Maurice White celebrates with Philip Bailey (left) and Verdine White (right) at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Photo credit: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images).
In 1975 the group scored a hit with the funk song ‘Shining Star‘, and from there on the hits kept on coming. For the next six years the group hit gold with songs such as ‘Fantasy‘, ‘Sing A Song‘, ‘Boogie Wonderland‘, ‘September‘, ‘Let’s Groove‘ and so many, many more. The group also developed their stage act, becoming known for energetic performances combined with magical tricks and large sets.
By the eighties the group was showing signs of discomfort among its members over the group’s direction, with Larry Dunn and Al McKay departing, and in 1983 the group when on hiatus for four years. During this period White released a decent solo album, as well as producing and writing for other artists, most notably Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond, but was persuaded to reunite his old-bandmates in 1987. By the end of the decade the group were back on the road with a quartet of original members backed by new additions.
(Maurice White’s brother Verdine reacts to his death on Facebook)
This quartet of White, his brother Verdine White on bass, Philip Bailey on vocals and Ralph Johnson on percussion only lasted until 1995 when Maurice White was forced to quit touring due to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. He retained control of the group’s recording direction and appeared on their releases The Promise and Illumination. He also oversaw the release of an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute album that featured Chaka Khan and Kirk Franklin. In recent years he has been less involved with the group, who today still consists of Verdine White, Philip Bailey and Ralph Johnson, but did give his blessing for the group’s last album Now, Then & Forever, the first not to feature White in any capacity.
(Philip Bailey’s tribute to his former bandmate Maurice White on Facebook).
Maurice White’s death is yet another sad moment in a year already filled with sad moments. His legacy and his vision has outlived him, and will probably outlive us all. He was a man of outstanding talent and outstanding ability, the likes of which we are unlikely to see again.