Earth, Wind & Fire soul band founder Maurice White dies

The music world lost one of its most significant luminaries when Maurice White, founder and co-frontman of the iconic group Earth, Wind & Fire, died yesterday (February 4).

The singer died in Los Angeles on Thursday morning following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. White was individually inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010. His brother and the group’s bassist, Verdine White confirmed his death on social media, with a picture of his brother walking toward the pyramids at Giza, Egypt. African iconography was often incorporated into their album artwork.

In 1994 he was forced to stop touring with the United States soul band, who had a string of hits including Wonderland, Shining Star, and After the Love Has Gone. In the meantime, we share the following exceptional live performances of some of the group’s biggest hits.

“My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep”, Verdine White told the Associated Press. He produced many of Earth, Wind & Fire’s albums and also produced for artists including Barbra Streisand.

“That was the whole objective, to try to inspire young people to believe in themselves and to follow through on their ideas”, he said. “I figured if people were listening to something they hadn’t heard before, we had to do exciting things”.

He attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music and during the 1960s, he backed Muddy Waters, The Impressions and others and worked as a session drummer.

However, despite Maurice’s success with the band, it was not always smooth sailing for the musician.

White passed away just 12 days before Earth, Wind & Fire were set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award. He reportedly took the name from his astrological chart. He shared vocal duties with lead singer Philip Bailey.

White’s autobiography, Keep Your Head to the Sky: My Life with Earth, Wind & Fire, is scheduled to be published on September 13.