Earth, Wind and Fire drummer Fred White dies aged 67

Fred White, the American drummer for the funk band Earth, Wind & Fire, has died at the age of 67, his brother and former member of the band announced on Monday.

Born in Chicago (Northern Illinois) in 1955, White began playing 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.

“Our family is saddened today by the loss of an incredible and talented family member,” wrote another of his brothers, Verdin White, in an Instagram post, “he had records of gold since he was 16! »

Earth, Wind & Fire quickly rose to fame in the 1970s, becoming one of the first to break racial barriers in pop music and becoming a huge hit with both the white and African-American community.

In 1979, they were the first African-American outfit to play to sold-out crowds at New York’s prestigious Madison Square Garden.

The band’s official Instagram page posted a video of them performing a white drum solo at a concert in Germany in 1979, along with the message “Rest in Love”.

He later worked with other artists, including soul singer Denise Williams.

As a member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, White was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, the pantheon of American rock and popular music.

The group distinguished itself through its songs, but also through energy-filled performances punctuated by the strong presence of the kalimba, an African percussion instrument composed of brass instruments and metal slats.

After the election of President Barack Obama, who invited one of the first artists to perform after entering the White House in 2009, the group rose to fame, without leaving the stage entirely.