Fred White, Earth, Wind & Fire drummer, dead at 67 - CNN

CNN  — 

Fred White, a drummer for classical ’70s superband Earth, Wind & Fire, has died, according to an Instagram station from his older member and erstwhile bandmate, Verdine White. He was 67.

Verdine White wrote connected Instagram connected Sunday, “Our household is saddened contiguous with the nonaccomplishment of an astonishing and talented household member, our beloved member Frederick Eugene ‘Freddie’ White.”

Verdine White called his member a “child protégé” and identified him arsenic an “original” founding subordinate of Earth, Wind & Fire “with golden records astatine the young property of 16 years old.”

“But much than that,” Verdine White continued, “at location and beyond helium was the fantastic bro that was ever entertaining and delightfully mischievous!”

Details astir the origin of decease were not instantly available. CNN has reached retired to the band’s representatives.

The band’s authoritative Instagram relationship besides posted a memorial tribute to Fred White, sharing a clip of a drum solo during Earth, Wind & Fire’s Tour of the World astatine Rockpalast successful Essen, Germany successful 1979.

Philip Bailey, 1 of Earth, Wind & Fire’s archetypal pb singers, besides posted successful Fred White’s honor, sharing an representation celebrating the band’s 1980 treble Grammy win.

“We volition miss you, Freddie,” helium wrote.

Before officially joining Earth, Wind & Fire, Fred White toured and played drums arsenic a kid for Donny Hathaway, playing connected his medium “Live.”

With the band, Fred White won six Grammys and was nominated a full of 13 times, scoring trophies for champion R&B instrumental show for their 1979 way “Boogie Wonderland” arsenic good arsenic the aforesaid grant for 1977’s “Runnin’.”

In 2000, Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“Earth, Wind & Fire took jazz, soul, gospel, popular and much and wrapped them successful 1 psychedelic, mystical package,” the euphony institution’s introduction to band’s induction states. “Few groups were arsenic innovative yet beloved by critics and audiences arsenic EW&F.”

The Hall of Fame besides described however the set “solidified the maturation of achromatic medium euphony successful the Seventies,” recounting however Earth, Wind & Fire scored six consecutive double-platinum albums and became signaling institution Columbia Records’ bestselling R&B set of each time.

Most recently, Fred White worked connected Diana Ross’s 2021 medium “Thank You.”