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 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 Chess sessions of the early 60s.

He spent the mid to late 60s working with Ramsey Lewis and then formed 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 Fred White, Verdine White and E,W&F's road manager 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.