Fred White started playing the drums when he was only 9 years old, according to Spin. He began his career as Donny Hathaway’s drummer and then joined Earth, Wind & Fire when he was 19 years old. First formed in 1970, the band achieved success with their hit song “Shining Star” in 1975, which won them their first Grammy, according to their website.
The band would go on to win five more Grammys over the years, with 17 nominations under their belt. In 2016, Earth, Wind & Fire won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Four years later, the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, per Drum! They performed “Shining Star” and “That’s the Way of the World” during the gala, with Fred White at the drums.
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Earth, Wind & Fire may best be known for their smash hits “September,” “Shining Star,” and “Boogie Wonderland.” The band’s song resonated with many generations and undoubtedly, Fred’s funky rhythmic playing helped propel them to the top. He left the band in the 1980s and joined them again in 2000 when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, per the New York Post. Fred’s cause of death has not been revealed as of this writing. He was 67 years old.
