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White died at his home on Wednesday night from natural
causes, publicist Mark Young said. White had been battling
Parkinson's disease since 1994.
"My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away
peacefully last night in his sleep," White's brother and fellow
band member, Verdine White, said in a statement posted on the
band's Facebook page.
"While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our
family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will
be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives,"
he added. "Thank you for your prayers and well wishes."
Earth, Wind & Fire was founded by White, a session drummer, in
1969 after he moved from Chicago to Los Angeles. The
Grammy-winning band fused together rhythm and blues, gospel,
funk, soul and African sounds, and enjoyed numerous hits,
including "Shining Star," "Boogie Wonderland" and "September."
While White stopped touring with the band in 1994 due to health
issues, he remained active in the songwriting and production of
the group's music.
Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 2000.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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