OT: Earth, Wind, & Fire Founder Maurice White Passes Away at 74
Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White, whose horn-driven band sold more than 90 million albums and made hits like "September," ''Shining Star" and "Boogie Wonderland," died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, his brother Verdine said.
White, who was 74, suffered from Parkinson's Disease and had retreated from the public even as the band he founded kept performing.
"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. "While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes."
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/earth-wind-fire-founder-m…
Great, great musician. I'm going to play September, Shining Star, and Sing a Song on Rocksmith today in tribute. (Yeah, I need the Rocksmith training wheels to play guitar.)
February 5th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^
February 5th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^
Obligatory turn it to 11 when EW&F is playing. Funky. RIP, Maurice. A true music legend.
February 5th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^
February 5th, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^
weird.
February 5th, 2016 at 10:59 AM ^
I can't "conceive" of this...
February 5th, 2016 at 10:36 AM ^
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February 5th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
The performance started with them being lowered to the stage inside cylindrical, sci-fi-like capsules. Pretty over the top entrance, but it was an entertaining show anyhow.
The November 9, 1977 issue of the Daily has a review of the concert (scroll right to the third page:
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=aGxtzYPGyQEC&dat=19771109&prints…
February 5th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
I think that was when I met him. The Marching Band did an EW&F show and he was with us on the sidelines. Pretty cool guy who didn't mind hanging around and talking to college kids.
February 5th, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
I like the humble Star Wars ad just below. "A hell of a lot of fun . . . brims with adventure . . . I loved it." Sounds like a description of a generic action picture.
February 5th, 2016 at 10:41 AM ^
Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang, The Commodores> rap music
February 5th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^
A cat in a blender > rap music
February 5th, 2016 at 3:02 PM ^
Cat in the blender > metal!
February 5th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^
...the saving grace here is that you can play pretty much any Earth Wind & Fire song and feel 100x better afterwards.
This is one of my favorites of theirs:
February 5th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
February 5th, 2016 at 12:17 PM ^
I was going to comment this thread technically didn't need to be OT, as Maurice had actually directed the MMB back in the 80's. I was going to confirm to Yo_Blue's post as well, but it was the 80s not 70s (unless he was there more than once). I was in the band then and it was definitely a very cool experience that he seemed to really enjoy.
RIP.
February 5th, 2016 at 10:57 AM ^
February 5th, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
February 5th, 2016 at 11:06 AM ^
"All 'n All" on 8 track back in the day.
I'll remember and appreciate Maurice White until the 12th of Never.
February 5th, 2016 at 1:14 PM ^
I actually wanted my avatar to be the backside of the All n' All album cover, but for some reason it wouldn't resize the image. Their album covers were pretty badass. One of the greatest groups of all time. Rest easy Mr. White.
February 5th, 2016 at 11:08 AM ^
Maurice White worked with countless artists over the years both before and after he stopped actively touring with Earth, Wind & Fire, including stints producing albums for The Emotions and several other groups as well as co-writing music with Barry Manilow and playing drums on numerous tracks for other artists. White pretty much did everything you could do in music from performance onwards. He is still cited as an influence by artists today, in fact.
As a minor personal aside, it strikes a small personal chord for me only because he died from the effects of Parkinson's and I am watching my father walk slowly down this same road.
RIP Maurice White.
February 5th, 2016 at 11:08 AM ^
Rest in peace Maurice, your music will live on.
February 5th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
Another one here who grew up to parents playing EWF constantly. Sad day indeed.
February 5th, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^
You just start moving around as soon as the music starts.
February 5th, 2016 at 11:41 AM ^
Truly one of the most gifted writers arrangers and performers of all time. He will be missed even more.
February 5th, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^
Earth, Wind and Fire was one of my favorite bands growing up in the '70. I never got a chance to see them live, but I bet they put on a GREAT show!!!!!
February 5th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^
No matter how bad the day, when I hear September, instantly gets better.
February 5th, 2016 at 12:32 PM ^
February 5th, 2016 at 12:54 PM ^
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February 5th, 2016 at 1:14 PM ^
I can't remember what the name of the show was, but back in the day, when there were 3 TV channels, one of them had a late night music show on Friday or Saturday, and they would show concerts on a rotating basis. EWF was always my favorite. I recorded it on a VCR (google it) and played the tape over and over when there was nothing else to watch. Seeing the whole band up there in 50 different colors and polyester suits and feathers and sparkling boots, it was a great visual experience. The horn section was fantastic. And, then listening to Maurice and Phillip Bailey trading vocals was just spectacular. I only wish that I had attended one of their concerts. RIP Maurice.
February 5th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
February 5th, 2016 at 2:18 PM ^
February 5th, 2016 at 7:02 PM ^
Unfortunately the next few years are gonna be rough as many legendary rock stars will make their exits.