Fred White, an early member of the American band Earth, Wind, and Fire, passed away on Monday at the age of 67.
Combining jazz, funk, R&B, soul, dance, pop, and rock, the band became the first black group to sell out Madison Square Garden, one of the most prominent concert venues in New York.
White was born in Chicago in 1955 and began playing drums at a very young age in the funk band that his late brother, Maurice White, created in 1969.
White won a gold record at age 16 as a teenager. Until 1983, he was a member of the group.
EWF. This Family groove’s base. It was constructed with Maurice, Verdine, and Freddy. We hardly needed to say anything… The Beat was in the Blood… Rest in peace, my brother. pic.twitter.com/stHz8jmRYg
— Philip Bailey (@PhilipBaileyEWF) January 3, 2023
Verdine White, one of the White brothers and the group’s bassist, said, “Our family is grieved tonight by the passing of a remarkable and brilliant family member.”
A video of White doing a drum solo at the 1979 concert in Germany was released on the band’s Instagram feed.
The band penned “Rest in love.”
»Fred White, a member of Earth, Wind, and Fire, has died.«