Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White has died aged 67

CNN —

Fred White, drummer for the classic ’70s supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire, has died, according to an Instagram post by his older brother and former bandmate Verdin White. He was 67.

Verdin White wrote on Instagram on Sunday: “Today our family is saddened by the loss of an amazing and talented family member, our beloved brother Frederick Eugene ‘Freddie’ White.”

Verdin White called his brother a “child protégé” and identified him as an “original” founding member of Earth, Wind & Fire “with gold records at age 16.”

“But more than that,” continued Verdin White, “at home and away he was the wonderful brother who was always funny and delightfully mischievous!”

Details on the cause of death were not immediately available. CNN contacted representatives of the group.

The band’s official Instagram account also posted a memorial tribute to Fred White, sharing a clip of a drum solo during the Earth, Wind & Fire world tour at the Rockpalast in Essen, Germany in 1979.

Philip Bailey, one of the original lead singers of Earth, Wind & Fire, also posted a tribute to Fred White, sharing an image commemorating the band’s double Grammy win in 1980.

“We will miss you Freddy,” he wrote.

Before officially joining Earth, Wind & Fire, Fred White toured and played drums as a kid for Donny Hathaway, playing on his “Live” album.

With the group, Fred White won six Grammy Awards and was nominated a total of 13 times, scoring trophies for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for their 1979 song “Boogie Wonderland” as well as the same award for 1977’s “Runnin'” .

In 2000, Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Earth, Wind & Fire took jazz, soul, gospel, pop and more and wrapped them into one psychedelic, mystical package,” reads the music institution’s introduction to the band’s introduction. “Few bands have been as innovative yet beloved by critics and audiences as EW&F.”

The Hall of Fame also describes how the group “solidified the growth of black album music in the ’70s,” recounting how Earth, Wind & Fire scored six consecutive double-platinum albums and became Columbia Records’ best-selling R&B group of all time.

Most recently, Fred White worked on Diana Ross’ 2021 album Thank You.