(January 2, 2023) We have very sad news from the Earth Wind & Fire camp. The group’s longtime drummer, Freddie White, has died at age 67. He was the brother of EWF group members Maurice and Verdine White.
Verdine White let fans know of Freddie’s passing in a social media post:
Dearest Family Friends and Fans.....
(January 2, 2023) We have very sad news from the Earth Wind & Fire camp. The group’s longtime drummer, Freddie White, has died at age 67. He was the brother of EWF group members Maurice and Verdine White.
Verdine White let fans know of Freddie’s passing in a social media post:
Dearest Family Friends and Fans.....
Our family is saddened today. With the loss of an amazing and talented family member, Our beloved brother Frederick Eugene "Freddie" White.
He joins our brothers Maurice, Monte and Ronald in heaven and is now drumming with the angels!
Child protégé, member of the EWF ORIGINAL 9, with gold records at the young age of 16 years old! He was brother number 4 in the family lineup. But more than that at home and beyond he was the wonderful bro that was always entertaining and delightfully mischievous! And we could always count on him to make a seemingly bad situation more light hearted!
He will live in our hearts forever, rest in power beloved Freddie!!
We thank you all for your love, blessings and support at this time.
Soar high baby bro, we love you to the shining and back!
A Chicago native, White was a noted drummer in Chicago as a mere teenager, and performed on albums by Donny Hathaway, Willie Hutch and Linda Ronstadt, before taking his place with EWF beginning with the seminal album That’s The Way of The World at age 19.
That album began a relationship that lasted a decade and over a dozen albums, even as White also worked with Deniece Williams, The Emotions and other artists.
As a very young man, White played an important role in one of the greatest bands of our lifetime, and his work will live on. Rest in peace.