Latest Drum News
Freddie White has died, at this time it is unclear if he died at the end of December or January 1st. Fred White was one of the early members of Earth, Wind & Fire. He previously played drums on Donny Hathaway’s Live album.
White’s death was announced by Fred’s brother and fellow group member, bass guitarist Verdine White, on January 1, 2023. Freddie was 67.
Drummer and educator David Stanoch wrote the following about Freddie:
“Today we celebrate the life of Freddie White, whose passing at 67 years of age was announced this morning.
When I was growing up, I saw Freddie play with Earth Wind and Fire on 3 different occasions. At the first two concerts, he was double drumming with Ralph Johnson & those concerts were a real lesson in how two drumset players could work optimally together to propel a band onstage.
The last time I saw him with the band, on the Raise tour, Ralph had moved up front with Maurice White & Philip Bailey & what Freddie was doing up there on the drum riser by himself was nothing short of phenomenal. I’m telling you – if you never got to see him play, you really missed a very, very special drummer with an amazing feel & great imagination.
In his autobiography, EWF founder Maurice White described his youngest brother as a child prodigy & said the impact of Freddie joining the band was immediate and made their live show more intense than it already was! I know that is true because I saw it.
On the Raise tour stop in MSP Freddie took a drum solo I’ll never forget. At one point he busted into & soloed over a shuffle rhythm on his bass drum that was so fast & so strong it easily rivaled the classic double bass drum shuffle grooves we’ve all enjoyed hearing Billy Cobham, Simon Phillips & Alex Van Halen play & with all due respect to them, Freddie did it with one foot – which I could see while he played!
Check out the classic Donny Hathaway LIVE LP, which was easily Freddie’s, most famous recorded work, joining Donny’s band while he was still a teenager. It’s also a little-known fact that he was playing with Little Feat for a while before joining EWF!
Rest in power, Freddie, and may your spirit soar free as the shining star you are.”
I will never forget you.
- David Stanoch – 1/2/2023 / www.DavidStanochSchoolofDrumming.com
