Early career Maurice White was born in
Memphis, Tennessee, on December 19, 1941. He grew up in
South Memphis, where he lived with his grandmother in the Foote Homes Projects and was a childhood friend of
Booker T. Jones and
David Porter. Along with Jones, White formed a "cookin' little band" while attending
Booker T. Washington High School. He also made frequent trips to Chicago to visit his mother, Edna, and stepfather, Verdine Adams, who was a doctor and occasional saxophonist. Satterfield, White, and Handy became studio musicians at
Chess Records in Chicago. At Chess, he played the drums on records of
Etta James,
Chuck Berry,
Rotary Connection,
Betty Everett and
Junior Wells. Along with the likes of
Sonny Stitt,
Muddy Waters,
the Impressions,
the Dells,
Willie Dixon,
Sugar Pie DeSanto and
Buddy Guy. White also played the drums on
Fontella Bass's "
Rescue Me" (with Satterfield on bass),
Billy Stewart's, "
Summertime",
Betty Everett's
You're No Good and
Little Milton's
We're Gonna Make It". In June 1966, he left Chess and the Pharaohs to join the
Ramsey Lewis Trio, replacing Isaac "Red" Holt as the group's drummer. Holt and bassist Eldee Young left to form
Young-Holt Unlimited. Young was also replaced by
Cleveland Eaton. As a member of the Trio, Maurice first played on 1966's
Wade in the Water. A song from that album called "Hold It Right There" won a
Grammy Award for
Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental. White later played the drums on 1966's
The Movie Album along with 1967's
Dancing in the Street and ''
Goin' Latin''. He also performed on the Trio's 1968 LPs
Up Pops Ramsey Lewis, ''
Mother Nature's Son and Maiden Voyage''. Around this time, he encountered the African thumb piano (
kalimba), in a Chicago drum store. A tune entitled "Uhuru", from the Trio's 1969 album
Another Voyage, marks the first recording of White playing the kalimba.'''' In 1969, White joined his two friends,
Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, to form a songwriting team who wrote songs for commercials in the Chicago area. The three friends got a recording contract with
Capitol Records and called themselves the Salty Peppers. They had a moderate hit in the
Midwest area with their single "La La Time", but their second single, "Uh Huh Yeah", was not as successful. White then left the trio, moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, and altered the name of the band to Earth, Wind & Fire. With the band's new name reflecting the elements in his own astrological chart. The group was bestowed with a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame and four
American Music Awards. Prior to the band's 2000 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Maurice revealed an ongoing affliction with Parkinson's disease. A website entitled Startalk.org was also established a year earlier in his honor where artists such as
Steven Tyler of
Aerosmith,
Boyz II Men,
Smokey Robinson,
Isaac Hayes,
Michael Jackson,
Eric Clapton and
Tom Morello of
Rage Against the Machine posted complimentary messages. Other noted artists who posted messages were
Brian McKnight,
Al Jarreau,
Kenny G,
Seal,
Chick Corea,
Carly Simon and
Dionne Warwick. Along with the band White notably performed at the
2002 BET Awards and the
2004 Grammy Awards' Tribute to Funk. As well as upon stage, with EW&F and special guest
Alicia Keys, at
Clive Davis' 2004 pre-Grammy party where they all sang
"September".
Deniece Williams In May 1976, White &
Charles Stepney were co-producing
Deniece Williams' debut album
This Is Niecy when Stepney died unexpectedly during the sessions. Maurice finished producing the LP himself, which was released in August 1976 on
Columbia Records. Williams was a former backup vocalist for
Stevie Wonder's band Wonderlove. The album was the first for Kalimba Productions, a production company also established by White and Stepney in 1976.
This Is Niecy rose to No. 3 on the US
Billboard Top Soul Albums and No. 33 on the US
Billboard 200 charts. A song off the LP called "
Free" got to No. 25 on the US
Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the US
Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 1 on the
UK Pop Singles chart.
This Is Niecy has also been certified Gold in the US by the
RIAA and Silver in the UK by the
BPI. Maurice also produced Williams' sophomore album
Songbird, released in 1977. The album rose to No. 23 on the US
Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 5 on the UK
Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart. A single entitled "
Baby, Baby My Love's All for You" got to No. 13 on the US
Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart, No. 5 on the UK
Blues & Soul Top British Soul Singles chart and No. 32 on the
UK Pop Singles chart. Williams later issued 1978's ''
That's What Friends Are For'' on Columbia records for Kalimba Productions. She then released 1979's
When Love Comes Calling on
ARC Records, Maurice's subsidiary label on Columbia. Maurice featured as a guest artist on the LP, which peaked at No. 27 on the
US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. The single, "
I've Got the Next Dance", also reached No. 1 on the
Billboard Dance Club Play chart. Williams thereafter issued two studio albums, being 1981's
My Melody and 1982's
Niecy on ARC Records. She later revealed in a 2007 interview that she "loved working with Maurice White ... he taught me the business of music, and planning and executing a plan and executing a show." The album got to No. 5 on the
Billboard Top Soul albums chart.
Flowers has also been certified
Gold in the US by the
RIAA. The album's
title track got to No. 16 on the
Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. Another single being "
I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love" got to Nos. 4 & 13 on the
Billboard Dance Club Songs and
Hot Soul Songs charts respectively. Following Charles Stepney's sudden death from a heart attack in May 1976, "Best of My Love" won a
Grammy for
Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals, and an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. "Best of My Love" has also been certified
Platinum in the US by the
RIAA. In 1978 The Emotions released their third Columbia album,
Sunbeam. The album rose to No. 12 on the
Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 40 on the
Billboard 200 chart. An album cut called "
Smile" reached No. 6 on the
Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.
Sunbeam has been certified
Gold in the US by the
RIAA. The Emotions also received an
American Music Award nomination in 1978 for Favorite Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group. During 1979 Earth, Wind & Fire collaborated with the Emotions on the single "
Boogie Wonderland". The song reached No. 6 on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 2 on the
Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. "Boogie Wonderland" has also been certified
Gold in the US by the
RIAA. White produced the girl group's 1979 LP
Come into Our World which was released on his own Columbia imprint
ARC Records. The album rose to No. 35 on the
Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. A song from the LP called "
What's the Name of Your Love?" also rose to No. 30 in the
Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart. White went on to be
Grammy nominated in the category of
Producer of the Year Non-Classical.
Work with other artists White also worked with several other famous recording artists. He played the drums on poet
Shel Silverstein's album,
Drain My Brain. White also played the drums on former Rotary Connection lead singer
Minnie Riperton's 1970 debut album,
Come to My Garden. White later co-produced Ramsey Lewis' 1974 album
Sun Goddess. That album reached No. 1 on the
Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 12 on the
Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Alongside
Charles Stepney he also produced Lewis' 1976 LP
Salongo. The album rose to No. 7 on the
Billboard Jazz Albums & No. 17 on the
Billboard Top Soul Albums charts. White composed a song called Tahiti Hut with
Eumir Deodato on his 1978 studio album
Love Island. That album got to No. 20 on the
Billboard Jazz Albums charts. White later served as the executive producer of the R&B band
Pockets' album
Take It On Up released in 1978 on Columbia. That album reached No. 22 on the
Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. A duet with Deniece Williams called And Then featured on
Weather Report's 1978 album
Mr. Gone. That album was released on ARC Records, Maurice's subsidiary label at Columbia. Mr. Gone rose to No. 1 on the
Billboard Jazz Albums chart. Weather Report's follow up albums
8:30,
Night Passage and
Weather Report were also released on ARC/Columbia. He also wrote a song called Only In Chicago with
Barry Manilow on his 1980 album
Barry. That album was certified
Platinum in the US by the
RIAA He also appeared as a guest artist on
the Tubes' 1983 album
Outside Inside. White later produced
Jennifer Holliday's Grammy nominated 1983 LP
Feel My Soul. White went on to co-produce
Barbra Streisand on her 1984 album
Emotion.
Emotion has been certified Platinum in the US by the
RIAA. He also produced on Ramsey Lewis' 1985 album
Fantasy. That album reached No. 13 on the
Cashbox Jazz Albums chart. He also appeared as a guest artist on
Lee Ritenour's Grammy nominated 1986 album
Earth Run. He worked as a producer with
Atlantic Starr on the band's 1987 LP
All in the Name of Love. The album has been certified Platinum in the US by the
RIAA. He then appeared a guest artist on
Cher's 1987
self-titled LP. That album has been certified Platinum in the US by the
RIAA. As well he performed as a percussionist and co-produced on Ramsey Lewis's 1987 album
Keys to the City. That album got to No. 22 on the
Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. White co-wrote a tune entitled "Can't Sit Down" upon jazz guitarist
Stanley Jordan's 1988 album
Flying Home. Alongside singer
El DeBarge, he co-produced, his 1992 album
In The Storm. The album got to No. 22 on the
Blues & Soul Top UK Soul Albums chart. White collaborated with the Japanese band
Dreams Come True on two songs. "Wherever You Are" from their 1994 album
Delicious, and "Eternity", which appeared on the soundtrack for the 1994 animated film
The Swan Princess. As well he produced on Ramsey Lewis's 1993 album
Sky Islands. That album rose to No. 4 on the
Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and No. 6 on the
Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart. That album rose to No. 10 on the
Billboard Jazz Albums chart. White went on to produce the debut album of jazz group
Urban Knights released in 1995 by
GRP Records.
Urban Knights I featured Ramsey Lewis, percussionist
Omar Hakim, trumpeter
Freddie Hubbard, The Emotions and saxophonist
Grover Washington, Jr. That album rose to No. 5 on the US
Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 9 on the
UK Jazz & Blues Albums chart. He also made a guest appearance on a song called Midnite by British R&B group
D'Influence's 1995 album
Prayer 4 Unity. "
Midnite" reached No. 11 on the
UK R&B Singles chart and No. 24 on the
UK Dance Singles chart. During 1996 White launched his own record label dubbed
Kalimba Records. The Urban Knight's second album,
Urban Knights II was again produced by Maurice. Urban Knights II featured artists such as Ramsey Lewis,
Paulinho Da Costa,
Verdine White, singer-songwriter and guitarist
Jonathan Butler and jazz saxophonist
Najee. The album got to No. 7 on the US
Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 24 on the
UK Jazz & Blues Albums chart. White also arranged on British girl group
Cleopatra's 1998 album ''
Comin' Atcha!. Comin' Atcha'' peaked at number 20 on the UK Pop albums chart and was certified Silver in the UK by the
BPI. White co-produced saxophonist
Paul Taylor's 2000 album
Undercover. The album peaked at No. 3 on the US
Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and at No. 27 on the US
Billboard Top Independent Albums chart. He also appeared as a guest artist on Jazz saxophonist
Kirk Whalum's 2003 album
Into My Soul. As well White collaborated with French jazz band
Nojazz on tunes "Nobody Else" and "Kool" from their 2006 album
Have Fun. "Kool" marked the first time White performed with his friend
Stevie Wonder on record. White later executively produced an EWF
tribute album entitled
Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire, released in March 2007 by
Stax Records. The album rose to no. 28 on the
Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. On the LP were featured artists such as
Chaka Khan,
Musiq Soulchild,
Mint Condition,
Kirk Franklin and
Angie Stone. Kirk Franklin's cover of "
September" reached No. 17 on the
Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 26 on the
Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart. As well
Dwele's remake of "
That's The Way Of The World" and
Meshell Ndegeocello's cover of "
Fantasy" were both
Grammy nominated for
Best Urban/Alternative Performance. He then executively produced jazz musician
Brian Culbertson's album
Bringing Back The Funk, released in 2008 on
GRP Records.
Bringing Back the Funk rose to No. 3 on the
Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 18 on the
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. This album featured guest artists such as
Ray Parker Jr.,
Sheldon Reynolds,
Bootsy Collins,
Larry Graham,
Ledisi,
Ronnie Laws,
Musiq Soulchild,
Bernie Worrell,
Maceo Parker,
Larry Dunn and
Gerald Albright. A song from the album called "Always Remember" got to No. 1 on the
Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart. Culbertson revealed in an interview that he is "...still in disbelief. I have learned so much from (Maurice) and he actually said that he learned a lot from me. It was incredible to work with him." Maurice also co-wrote a tune called "Eye to Eye", that eventually appeared on British soul singer
Jaki Graham's 2018 album
When a Woman Loves.
Solo albums During 1985, White released a
self titled solo album on Columbia.
Robin Denselow of
The Guardian called the album a "lush collection of self produced dance tracks, and the occasional ballad, with synths and drum programming immaculately in place, and the vocals as classy as ever".
J.D. Considine of
Musician also said the "Given his status as Earth, Wind & Fire's Shining Star, it comes as no surprise that White's first solo project sounds a lot like classic EW&F: tight, focused and punchy. But while White remembers to sink a hook into every verse and chorus, the emphasis here is on subtlety and sophistication as he works his way from R&B basics, from the studio mechanics of 'Switch on Your Radio' to the modified
doo wop of 'Stand by Me', with a sense of craft that makes slickness irrelevant". The album rose to number 12 on the
Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. A cover of
Ben E. King's "
Stand by Me", feat. jazz saxophonist
Gerald Albright got to No. 6 on the
Billboard Hot Soul Singles and No. 11 on the
Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart. Another single from the album called "
I Need You" rose to No. 20 on the
Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart and No. 30 on the
Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. In 2019, an album of previously unreleased recordings, titled
Manifestation, was released. This album consists of selected tracks worked on by White and songwriter/producer
Preston Glass over a period of nearly 30 years.
Screen and stage White wrote and produced songs for the feature films
Coming to America,
A Low Down Dirty Shame, and
Gatchaman OVA. He also composed music for the television series
Life Is Wild. During 2006 he worked with
Gregory Hines' brother,
Maurice on the Broadway play
Hot Feet. White and
Allee Willis also wrote several new songs for the play. In the movie
BAADASSSSS!, the actor
Khalil Kain portrayed a young Maurice White leading the early incarnation of Earth, Wind & Fire. Released at the
2004 Sundance Film Festival, the film was based on
Melvin Van Peebles' struggles to film and distribute the movie ''
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.'' His son,
Mario Van Peebles both directed the film and portrayed his father in the lead role.{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2004/06/04/van_peebles_scores_with_look_back_at_sweetback/ ==Personal life==