04 February 2016
Newsdesk
Earth, Wind & Fire star Maurice White has died just over a week before the band was to be honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The group's co-founder, who had been battling Parkinson's disease, passed away in his sleep on Thursday morning (04Feb16).
Maurice, 74, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1992, and he was forced to quit touring with the band two years later.
He formed the soul-funk collective with his brother Verdine in 1969 and they enjoyed chart success with hits like September, Boogie Wonderland, and After the Love has Gone.
Earth, Wind & Fire were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and are also members of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Maurice was also an accomplished songwriter and he also wrote tunes for movies like Coming to America and Undercover Brother and TV show Life Is Wild. White was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010.
He was also portrayed by actor Khalil Kain in the Sundance Film Festival hit BAADASSSSS!
As a producer, Maurice also enjoyed a string of collaborations with the likes of Chaka Khan, Deniece Williams, The Emotions, Barbra Streisand, and Lalah Hathaway.
