"Be Ever Wonderful" - R.I.P Maurice White

Tuesday, 03 February 2016 the music world as we know it lost one of it's many pioneers, Mr. Maurice White, soulful bandleader, singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and arranger.

He was the founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. He was also the older brother of current Earth, Wind & Fire member Verdine White, and former member Fred White. Maurice served as the band's main songwriter and record producer, and was co-lead singer (along with Philip Bailey). White won seven Grammys, and was nominated for 21 Grammys in total.

White was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire,  and was also individually inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Also known by his nickname Reese, he worked with several famous recording artists including; Deniece Williams, The Emotions, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond.


White was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the late 1980s, which led him to eventually stop touring with Earth, Wind & Fire in 1994. However, White retained executive control of the band, and remained active in the music business.




White has been called "an innovator" and "someone who has had a profound impact upon the music industry as a whole" by Chaka Khan, and Lalah Hathaway believes that "his contribution as both a musician and a producer has been immeasurable". White has also been cited as a main influence by artists such as Bilal and Lenny Kravitz.

White died in his sleep from the effects of Parkinson's disease at his home in Los Angeles, California on February 3, 2016 at the age of 74. Let's honor his legacy.