Earth, Wind & Fire co-founder Maurice White dead at 74

Earth, Wind and Fire singer and co-founder Maurice White died in his sleep here on Wednesday evening. He was 74.
The vocalist had been battling Parkinson's disease since 1992, reported The Rolling Stone magazine.
"My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep. While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives.
"Thank you for your prayers and well wishes," White's brother and bandmate Verdine wrote in a statement.

Earth, Wind & Fire, a nine-piece band featuring the two White brothers, singer Philip Bailey and a distinctive horn section, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
"The light is he, shining on you and me," the band posted on Twitter after the news of White's demise broke out.

He and the group had hits like "September," "Shining Star" and "Boogie Wonderland."
White stopped touring with the band in 1995 due to his health problems.
The musician was born in Memphis in 1941, the son of a doctor and grandson of a New Orleans piano player. He moved to Chicago with his family and sang gospel from a young age.

He attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music and during the 1960s, he backed Muddy Waters, The Impressions and others and worked as a session drummer.