Maurice White

Known to his friends as "Reese" Maurice White was an American R&B and funk singer (born on December 19, 1941 in Memphis, Tennessee, died on February 3rd, 2016 in Los Angeles). A childhood friend of [[artist:Booker T. Jones]], he was bitten by the music bug early and after finishing high school moved to Chicago where he worked as a session musician, usually playing drums, on many [[label:Chess]] sessions of the early 60s. He spent the mid to late 60s working with [[artist:Ramsey Lewis]] and then formed [[artist:Earth, Wind & Fire]] in 1969 with local Chicago singers, but relocated the band to Los Angeles in 1970 where they found success. He is the brother of [[artist:Fred White]], [[artist:Verdine White]] and E,W&F's road manager [[artist:Monte White]]. Sadly, suffered from the illness known as Parkinson´s since the mid 90´s. Inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010. He passed away on February 3, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.