Maurice White - Founder Of Earth, Wind & Fire - Passes Away At 74

From the soundtrack of my life, another loss. Heaven just got a whole lot funkier.

Maurice White, founder of the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire, passed away yesterday at the age of 74.

From Variety:

White’s health had declined in the last few months as a result of a long battle with Parkinsons disease, which had plagued him since the early 1990s and forced him to stop touring in 1994.

White founded the legendary funk-soul band in Chicago in the late 1960s alongside his brothers Verdine and Fred and served as the band’s chief songwriter and producer. He shared vocal duties with lead singer Philip Bailey. The group’s hits include “Shining Star,” “September” and “Boogie Wonderland.” The band, which has sold more than 90 million albums worldwide, is set to be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 15.

The musician has seven Grammy wins and 21 nominations under his belt. EWF was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. White also appears in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.