He was part of the rhythmic basis of Earth, Wind & Fire, in other words a significant part of the sound of the famous funk band. American drummer Fred White has died at the age of 67, his brother announced on Monday January 2.
“Our family is saddened today by the loss of an incredible and talented family member”wrote Verdine White, in a post on Instagram, recalling that her brother had had “gold records from the age of 16! »
On the band’s official Instagram page was posted a video of Fred White performing a drum solo at a concert in Germany in 1979 along with the message “Rest in Love”.
Born in 1955 in Chicago (Illinois, north), White had started playing the drums at a very young age. During his career, he won six Grammy Awards with the legendary funk group formed in 1969 by his brother, Maurice White, who died in 2016.
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The drummer, as a member of the group, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, the American pantheon of rock and popular music. He has also worked with other artists, including soul singer Deniece Williams.
Earth, Wind & Fire quickly rose to fame in the 1970s, becoming one of the first to break racial taboos in pop music and was hugely successful in both the white and African American communities. with titles like September, Lets’ groove or Boogie Wonderland. In 1979, the band was the first African-American band to perform to sold-out crowds at New York’s prestigious Madison Square Garden.
The group distinguished itself through its songs but also through its shows filled with energy, punctuated by a strong presence of brass instruments and a kalimba, an African percussion instrument made of metal slats.
Without ever having completely left the stage, the group experienced a resurgence in notoriety after the election of President Barack Obama, who invited them among the first artists to perform after entering the White House in 2009.