Fred White (January 13, 1955 – January 1, 2023) – Hey Brother (1972)
The Voices of East Harlem's powerful freedom song featured White on drums, prod. by Donny Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979) who sadly died 45 years ago.
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The great Earth, Wind & Fire drummer Fred White also played with Pieces of Peace, Willie Hutch, and Donny Hathaway before joining EWF in 1974. He appeared on numerous classic seventies albums both by Earth, Wind & Fire and other artists including Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, Deniece Williams, and The Emotions.
Frederick Eugene Adams was born in Chicago. The younger brother of Earth, Wind & Fire founding members Maurice and Verdine White, he began playing drums as a child. While he was a teenager he joined the legendary Chicago session band Pieces of Peace.
He played drums on and co-wrote their ultra-funky peace anthem masterpiece “Pass It On,” (1970) which was produced by Syl Johnson for Twinight Records.
White next began drumming for Donny Hathaway (whose tragic death coincidentally occurred exactly forty-five years ago today, on January 13, 1979). He played on his seminal Live album, recorded in 1971 when he was 16 years old and released in February, 1972. He also appeared on Hathaway’s third solo LP Extension of a Man (1973).
When Donny Hathaway produced several tracks for the New York City youth vocal ensemble The Voices of East Harlem, White was on drums as part of the backing band. Intended for their second album, the tracks were instead released as part of an import-only compilation titled Brothers And Sisters (1972). They included anthems like “I Wanna Be Free,” “Nation Time,” and the masterpiece freedom song “Hey Brother,” a reimagining of “Hey Joe.”
Here’s a 30-song playlist featuring some of White’s finest rare tracks, including from his time with Donny Hathaway, and clips of him performing with Earth, Wind & Fire.
Rest in Power, Fred White and Donny Hathaway.
Further info:
“Sunday Sounds: Fred White, The Fire Of Earth, Wind & Fire,” Drum Magazine.
“Donny Hathaway: Neglected Heart Of Soul,” NPR, June 21, 2010.
“Donny Hathaway: Tribute to a Man,” Red Bull Music Academy Daily, December 11, 2013.
“Fred White, Drummer for Earth, Wind & Fire, Dies at 67,” obituary, The New York Times, January 2, 2003.
#soul #funk #DonnyHathaway #EWF #FredWhite