Fred White dies: Earth, Wind & Fire drummer during band’s heyday turns 67

Fred White, who was the drummer for the Grammy-winning R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire during its 1970s and early 1980s heyday, including such hits as “September” and “Shining Star,” has died. He was 67 years old. His brother and bandmate Verdine White announced on social media that White was found dead on New Year’s morning.

“Our family is saddened today by the loss of a wonderful and talented family member, our beloved brother, Frederick Eugene ‘Freddy’ White,” he wrote (see message below). “He joins our brothers Maurice, Monte and Ronald in heaven and is now with the angels.”

Fred White was the drummer for Donny Hathaway and other acts when he joined Earth, Wind & Fire in 1974. He was behind the kit when the group was one of the country’s biggest R&B groups and played on their gold or platinum albums of the 1975s. This is the way of the world – which topped the Billboard 200 until 1983 Electric Universe. The group achieved eight consecutive top 10 albums from 1975 to 1981, including the live set. Gratitude.

Earth, Wind & Fire also had seven top 10 pop singles at the time, from “Shining Star,” which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1975 and won a Grammy, to “Let’s Groove,” which won have for running for five weeks. at number 3 in 1981. Her other biggest hits were “Sing a Song”, the Beatles cover “Got to Get You Into My Life” (from 1978). Sergeant Pepper film), the disco classics “September” and “Boogie Wonderland” – the latter with the emotions – and the two-time Grammy winner “After the Love Has Gone”. EWF also has eight no. 1s on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart.

Also known for their brightly colored outfits and lavish, high-energy live shows, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Fred White played at the induction ceremony after leaving the band halfway through. – the 80’s.

The band also had four UK top 5 singles and their albums I am (1979) and faces reached the top 10 there. EWF had three other top 10 UK compilation disc albums from 1978 to 2010.

Earth, Wind & Fire collected six Grammys and a total of 17 nominations from 1975 to 2005. Along with the Rock Hall, the group has also been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Watch the official video for September here:

The 1978 compilation CD The best of earth, wind and fire reached number 6 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 5 million copies in the US. According to the RIAA, the group has sold more than 23.5 million records in the US alone.

Fred White and his bandmates performed and wrote the score for the 1975 film This is the way of the world later renamed Shining star – with Harvey Keitel as a record manager who has to break through the struggling young band. The album became EWF’s true commercial breakthrough, spending three weeks at the top and charting below the Billboard 200. Rolling stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Fred White, born January 13, 1955 in Chicago, has also played drums on albums for acts such as Hathaway, Linda Ronstadt (the chart topper heart like a wheel) Small Power (Performance doesn’t let me down), Deniece Williams, The Emotions, Ramsey Lewis and Jennifer Holliday.

Here is his brother’s Instagram post: