The founding member of American soul group Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White has died aged 74.White died in his sleep in Los Angles on Thursday morning his brother confirmed. He suffered from Parkinson’s Disease after being diagnosed in 1992, however his condition is reported to have deteriorated in recent months.
Earth, Wind & Fire had several hits including September, Let’s Groove, Shining Star and Boogie Wonderland. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000; White was later inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010.
“My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep,” Verdine White, also a member of the band, told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Earth, Wind & Fire’s rise to success began with the 1975 album ‘That’s The Way of The World’ with Rolling Stone describing them as ‘innovative yet popular, precise yet sensual,calculated yet galvanizing.’
‘Thank you Maurice White for creating some of the greatest soul funk and R&B music of all time. Gratitude.” Mark Ronson wrote on Twitter. Other tributes included Quincy Jones who wrote: “Your contributions to music will be kept in our hearts and souls forever.”
Earth, Wind & Fire have sold more than 90 million albums worldwide.
