It was over 10 years ago already? That was the first and last time I got to cover the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) trade show. One of the draws was the Monster Cable Concert and their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performers, who were also there to promote a venture/product that used their expertise in sound quality regardless of music genre. The product was based on the celebrity-branded headphone craze emerging at that time and who else was more deserving than the band Earth, Wind & Fire? They received in-ear headphones called the Gratitude. I secured my spot ready to get some pictures of what was about to happen on stage and made the mistake of looking to my right. I noticed I was seated next to Denice Williams, and OG Earth, Wind & Fire members Larry Nunn and Maurice White. So, so gangster. Not only did they eventually grace the stage but another legend, Stevie Wonder, came out of the audience to partake in the song “Shining Star.” Memories were sparked as I prep to head out to check out the 2023 CES show and once more the group Earth, Wind & Fire is connected. This time, while still celebrated, they take an L as news hit that Fred E. White passed days before his January 13 birthday. Fred was a key cog in the genre-redefining music machine Earth Wind & Fire as they marched to immortality with classic upon classic albums, from 1975 through the mid ’80s. Think of the songs coming from that run: “That’s the Way of the World,” “Reasons,” “Love’s Holiday,” “Be Ever Wonderful,” “Shining Star,” “Let’s Groove” and—of course—the bar-b-que staple “September.” Fred was born in 1955 in Chicago into a family of musicians, that included his older brothers Maurice and Verdine White. Verdine took to Instagram to share from his heart,
“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 [prodigy], member of the EWF ORIGINAL 9, with gold records at the young age of 16 years old!”
To that point, at 15, Fred met a fellow Chicago wonder, Donny Hathaway, and weeks before graduating high school, was touring the nation with him. A product of the tour was the recording of the album “Donny Hathaway Live,” hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top 50 live albums ever.
Continuing Verdine’s sentiments, “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 lighthearted. He will live in our hearts forever, rest in power beloved Freddie!! Soar high baby bro, we love you to the shining stars and back!”
Preach!!!!
Over and out, all; holla next week, ’til then, enjoy the nightlife.
I love Earth Wind and Fire as well as Parliament and Rick James. Funk it up Fishbone. Macca the positive vibes merchant