Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White dies at 67: brother Verdine shares sad news as friend Lenny Kravitz posts tribute
- Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White dies at 67
- The sad news was shared by his brother Verdine White, 71.
- In the lengthy social media note, Fred’s cause of death was not revealed.
- The Earth, Wind & Fire band, which thrived during the 1970s and 1980s
- The band was responsible for the hit songs September and Shining Star.
Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White has died at the age of 67.
The sad news was shared by his brother Verdine White, 71, who was the founder and bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire, on social media on Sunday.
Fred’s cause of death was not released.
Thriving through the 1970s and 1980s and continuing to tour for decades, the band Earth, Wind & Fire were responsible for the hit songs September, Shining Star and After The Love Is Gone.
Sad goodbye: One of the members of the 1970s band Earth, Wind & Fire, who was responsible for the hit songs September and After The Love Is Gone, has passed away. It was published on Sunday that the eclectic band’s drummer, Fred White, had died at the age of 67.
“Dear family friends and fans… Our family is saddened today by the loss of an amazing and talented family member, our loving brother Frederick Eugene “Freddie” White,” he wrote.
‘He joins our brothers Maurice, Monte and Ronald in heaven and is now drumming with the angels! Protected child, member of EWF ORIGINAL 9, with gold records at the young age of 16! He was the number 4 brother in the family lineup,’ he added to himself.
White was called a “wonderful brother” who was “always entertaining and delightfully mischievous.”
The note then read: ‘And we can always count on him to make a seemingly bad situation more joyful!’
The musician added: ‘He will live in our hearts forever, rest in the power beloved Freddie! We thank you all for his love, blessings and support at this time. Soar high baby bro we love you to the glow [stars] and return!’
Fred was born in Chicago and began touring at age 15 with a band called The Salty Peppers.
The Salty Peppers became Earth, Wind & Fire in 1974.
The band had a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s, with one of their best songs being Shining Star.
Lenny Kravitz shared a tribute on Instagram: ‘Sending my love and deepest condolences to you and your family. I was blessed to have been in his presence and blessed to have been influenced by him. A true king. He rests in power.