Earth, Wind & Fire ex-drummer Fred White dies aged 67

Drummer Fred White, who backed up his brothers Maurice and Verdine White in the Grammy-winning ensemble Earth, Wind & Fire, has died. He was 67, AP reported.

Verdine White, a vocalist, percussionist and bass player for the band, posted on his Instagram account that his younger brother Frederick Eugene “Freddie” White had died. He didn’t say how or where his brother died.

Earth, Wind & Fire began in 1970 under the leadership of Maurice White. Fred White was already an accomplished drummer, playing for Donny Hathaway, before he joined Earth, Wind & Fire in the mid-1970s.

Verdine White said his brother Fred was a gifted child musician, “with gold records at the young age of 16 years old!”  Fred White remained with Earth, Wind & Fire until 1983.