An unidentified photographer captured Fred White, the drummer for Earth, Wind, and Fire, when he was performing on stage in this photograph. On Instagram, his older brother and former bandmate Verdine White broke the news that he had passed away.
Fred White, a drummer for the iconic band Earth, Wind, and Fire from the 1970s has gone away, as stated by a post on Instagram by his older brother and former bandmate Verdine White. He was 67.
Verdine White shared the news of her brother Frederick Eugene “Freddie” White’s demise on Instagram on Sunday. She wrote, “Our family is heartbroken today because our dear brother Frederick Eugene “Freddie” White, who was amazing and smart, has died.”
Verdine White, a founding member of Earth, Wind & Fire and “had gold records at the tender age of 16,” referred to his brother as a “child protégé.” Verdine White was an “original” founding member of the band.
But, as Verdine White pointed out, he was also a great brother who was always funny and delightfully naughty at home and elsewhere.
The specific circumstances surrounding the death were not immediately discovered to be the cause. CNN has established communication with the band’s representatives.
As part of their tribute to Fred White, Earth, Wind, and Fire’s official Instagram account posted a video of a drum solo from the band’s 1979 Tour of the World show at Rockpalast in Essen, Germany.
Philip Bailey, one of the original lead singers for Earth, Wind, and Fire, also took to social media to pay tribute to Fred White. Bailey posted a photo commemorating the group’s double Grammy win in 1980.
He wrote, “Freddie, we’ll miss you.”
Fred White played on Donny Hathaway’s “Live” record while on tour and playing drums for him before becoming a professional member of Earth, Wind & Fire.
Fred White has been honored with prizes for the best R&B instrumental performance in conjunction with the band for their songs “Boogie Wonderland” from 1979 and “Runnin'” from 1977. Both of these tracks were released. He won six Grammy Awards with the band and was nominated for thirteen.
In 2000, the band Earth, Wind, and Fire were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“Earth, Wind & Fire took jazz, soul, gospel, pop, and more and wrapped them in one trippy, wonderful package” is how the band’s induction into the music institution is described. EW&F was one of the few bands that both audiences and critics admired and thought were creative.
According to the Hall of Fame, the band “solidified the emergence of black album music in the Seventies.” Earth, Wind & Fire’s induction into the Hall of Fame was based on the fact that they had sold six double-platinum albums and were Columbia Records’ best-selling R&B group.
Diana Ross made Fred White’s most recent contribution to the album “Thank You” in 2021.