Members: Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Maurice White (died Feb. 4, 2016), Verdine White; Formed 1970 in Chicago, Illinois. Earth, Wind & Fire broke through in 1975 with their first No. 1 hit, "Shining Star," from their chart-topping album, That's The Way Of The World. Earth, Wind & Fire (EWF) is multi-genre band that spans across R&B, soul, jazz, disco, funk, rock, and Latin musical styles. Some of the band’s most prominent members included Maurice White, Phillip Bailey, Verdine White, Fred White, Larry Dunn, Ralph Johnson, John Paris, Johnny Graham, Ralph Johnson, Al McKay and Andrew Woolfolk. Maurice White, the co-founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, died Thursday morning (Feb. 4) at age 74, the band confirmed on Twitter.. Our brother Maurice White passed peacefully in his sleep this morning Earth, Wind & Fire is one of the most innovative and commercially invincible contemporary Pop / R&B music forces of the 20th century. Members Maurice White, Philip Bailey , Verdine White , Larry Dunn and Al McKay are known for their signature sound of fusing Pop, R&B, Rock, Latin, Funk, Jazz and African Music to win numerous awards. Fred White was already an accomplished drummer, playing for Donny Hathaway, before he joined Earth, Wind & Fire in the mid-1970s. Paired alongside drummer and percussionist Ralph Johnson, the band 1.4K. Fred White was the drummer for Earth, Wind & Fire in the 1970s and ‘80s, including on such hits as “September” and “Shining Star.”. Died: January 1, 2023 (Who else died on January Earth Wind & Fire drummer Fred White has died. The original and longtime member of the legendary soul, R&B and funk band was 67. On Monday (January 1), Verdine White, Fred's sibling and fellow Earth, Wind & Fire was one of the biggest and most distinctive-sounding acts in any genre in the 1970s and early 1980s. The band’s mastermind, Maurice White, died Wednesday after battling Which Members Are Part of the 2019 Lineup? B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals (1996–present) Myron McKinley – keyboards, musical director (2001–present) John Paris – drums, vocals (2001–present) Philip Doron Bailey – vocals, percussion (2009–present) Morris O’Connor – lead guitar, vocals Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist Sheldon Reynolds died at 63 this week, leaving behind a legacy with one of the best-selling groups of all time.. The band, formed by Maurice White in Chicago in 1969 RW3F.