Funk legend, Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White dies at 74

PanARMENIAN.Net - The founder of soul group Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White, has died in the U.S., his brother has said. White, 74, died in his sleep in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 4 morning. He suffered from Parkinson's Disease, BBC News reports.

His band had a series of hits including September, Boogie Wonderland, Shining Star and After the Love has Gone.

The singer-songwriter was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1992 but his condition was reported to have got worse in recent months.

Earth, Wind & Fire were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, and Maurice was individually inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010.

Popularly known by his nickname of Reese, he worked with various well-known recording artists such as The Emotions, Barbra Streisand, Cher and Neil Diamond. Earth, Wind & Fire have sold more than 90 million albums worldwide.

White said in an interview with the Associated Press news agency in 2000 that he wanted Earth, Wind & Fire's music to inspire people rather than just entertain them.

A former session drummer, White formed a band called Salty Peppers in the Chicago area in the late 1960s.

He subsequently moved to Los Angeles, disposing of all of the band members except Verdine, The band was renamed Earth, Wind & Fire after the three elements in his astrological chart.

Many of the group's earlier hits were characterised by Bailey's bright falsetto voice.

The band is perhaps best known for its exuberant, horn-driven mix of jazz, funk, gospel and Big Band music played at concerts where they performed in glitzy costumes underneath multi-coloured lights. They played at many top venues including the Super Bowl and the White House.