Verdine White

A founding member of the iconic pop band Earth, Wind and Fire, Verdine White is a legendary bassist and musician.

White grew up surrounded by music, with his father playing saxophone and two brothers who were drummers. He grew up listening to jazz and Motown, and was inspired to play the double bass in his school orchestra. He quickly moved onto the electric bass, collaborating with Louis Satterfield who would later become part of Earth, Wind and Fire with White. He started playing with local bands and in popular bars and clubs, and it was eventually his brother who invited him to join the newly formed Earth, Wind and Fire. The band released their debut album a year later, with Warner Bros, and were an instant hit, going on to achieve phenomenal worldwide success. They have since released a further 20 studio albums, received 17 Grammy Nominations (and won six) and sold over 90 million records worldwide. Earth, Wind and Fire have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, with White having been awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bass Player magazine.

Now nearly 70 years old, White is a crucial figure in the world of pop music, having been credited on countless tracks and albums and toured globally throughout his life. He is one of the best known bassists of all time, and will go down in history as a musical inspiration.