Maurice White, the co-founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, died on February 4, 2016, at age 74, following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease, according to the Recording Academy. A singer, principal songwriter and producer, he helped build the group’s distinctive, genre-spanning sound.
Who was Maurice White?
White founded Earth, Wind & Fire in Chicago in 1969. He shared lead vocals with Philip Bailey, but his influence extended well beyond the microphone: the Recording Academy describes him as the group’s principal songwriter and producer.
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The band’s official biography traces its sound across jazz, R&B, soul, funk, gospel, blues, rock and dance music. White described the ambition behind that mix: “I wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before.” He also said he wanted the music to convey “messages of universal love and harmony without force-feeding listeners’ spiritual content.”
What songs and albums did he help create?
White co-wrote Earth, Wind & Fire classics including “September,” “Shining Star” and “Let’s Groove,” the Recording Academy reports. His songwriting and production work included the group’s 1971 self-titled album, That’s the Way of the World (1975) and Spirit (1976).
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He also produced recordings for Deniece Williams, Barbra Streisand and the Emotions. The Recording Academy reports that White earned seven Grammy wins. In 2016, Earth, Wind & Fire received the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
How did Parkinson’s disease affect his career?
White was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the early 1990s and stopped touring with Earth, Wind & Fire in 1994, according to the band’s official biography. He remained associated with the group, whose members also included him in a 2010 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction.
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When did Maurice White die, and how old was he?
The Recording Academy says White died on February 4, 2016, aged 74, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. His brother and fellow band co-founder Verdine White announced his death in a statement reproduced on Maurice White’s official website: “My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep.”
Some contemporary accounts gave February 3 as the date. The Recording Academy and the band’s official biography give February 4; no precise time of death is established by those accounts.
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