In Memoriam: Maurice White (1941 – 2016)

Maurice “Moe” White (December 19, 1941 – February 4, 2016) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger and bandleader. He was the founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. He was also the older brother of current Earth, Wind & Fire member Verdine White, and former member Fred White. He served as the band’s main songwriter and record producer, and was co-lead singer along with Philip Bailey.

He won seven Grammys, and was nominated for a total of twenty Grammys. White was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire, and was also inducted individually into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Also known by his nickname “Reece”, he worked with several famous recording artists, including Deniece Williams, the Emotions, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond. White was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the late 1980s, which led him eventually to stop touring with Earth, Wind & Fire in 1994. He retained executive control of the band, and remained active in the music business. – Wikipedia

The founder of soul group Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White, has died in the US, his brother has said. White, 74, died in his sleep in Los Angeles on Thursday morning. He suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. 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.

Maurice White Dies At 74. http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35499149

Saturday 9pm: In Memoriam 2016

We feature music from some of those we lost in 2016, featuring music from: David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship for Paul Kantner, Earth, Wind and Fire for Maurice White, Emerson Lake and Palmer for Gregg Lake and Keith Emerson, Merle Haggard, Prince, Billy Paul, Juan Gabriel, Bobby Vee, Leonard Cohen, Leon Russell and George Michael.

Artist Countdown: Earth Wind & Fire Top 45 6pm ET @EarthWindFire

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American band that has spanned the musical genres of soul, disco, R&B, funk, jazz and rock. They are one of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands of the twentieth century. Rolling Stone has described them as “innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing” and has also declared that the band “changed the sound of black pop”.

Also known as EWF, the band was founded in Chicago by Maurice White in 1969. Other members have included Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson, Larry Dunn, and Al McKay. The band has received 20 Grammy nominations; they won six as a group and two of its members, Maurice White and Bailey, won separate individual awards. Earth, Wind & Fire have 12 American Music Awards nominations and four awards. They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and sold over 90 million albums worldwide. Five members of Earth, Wind & Fire were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame: Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay. The music industry and fans have bestowed Lifetime Achievement honors from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award – 2002), NAACP (Hall of Fame – 1994) and the BET Awards (Lifetime Achievement Award – 2002).

Earth, Wind & Fire is known for the dynamic sound of their horn section, their energetic and elaborate stage shows, and the interplay between the contrasting vocals of Philip Bailey’s falsetto and Maurice White’s tenor. The kalimba (African thumb piano) is played on all of the band’s albums.] In the 1970s and early 1980s, the band had many hits, including “Shining Star”, “That’s the Way of the World”, “Devotion”, “Reasons”, “Sing a Song”, “Can’t Hide Love”, “Getaway”, “Fantasy”, “Love’s Holiday”, “September”, “Boogie Wonderland”, “After the Love Has Gone”, and “Let’s Groove”. Two Earth, Wind & Fire classic songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame: “That’s the Way of the World” (2004) and “Shining Star” (2007).

The band is also known as having been the first African-American act to sell out Madison Square Garden and to receive the MSG Gold Ticket Award. President Barack Obama invited Earth, Wind & Fire to perform at the White House for the first social event of the new administration. Source: Wikipedia

1	Let’s Groove
2	Boogie Wonderland (with The Emotions)
3	September
4	After the Love Has Gone
5	Got to Get You into My Life
6	Fantasy
7	Fall in Love with Me
8	System of Survival
9	Saturday Nite
10	Sing a Song
11	Shining Star
12	Getaway
13	Serpentine Fire
14	Let Me Talk
15	Thinking of You
16	Magnetic
17	Sunday Morning
18	In The Stone
19	Star
20	And Love Goes On
21	That’s the Way of the World
22	Mighty Mighty
23	Sun Goddess (with Ramsey Lewis)
24	You
25	Evil
26	Devotion
27	Keep Your Head to the Sky
28	Kalimba Story
29	Can’t Hide Love
30	Touch
31	Wanna Be With You
32	Can’t Let Go
33	Side by Side
34	Love Is Life
35	All in the Way (with The Emotions)
36	Hot Dawgit (with Ramsey Lewis)
37	The Way You Move (with Kenny G)
38	On Your Face
39	I’ve Had Enough
40	Jupiter
41	I Think About Lovin’ You
42	Magic Mind
43	Back on the Road
44	Mom
45	Moonwalk