[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MOURNING THE LOSS AND HONORING THE UNFORGETTABLE LIFE OF MAURICE WHITE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 2016

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, it is with a deep sadness and a heavy 
heart that I rise today to pay tribute to Maurice White, a man who 
touched the hearts of millions of Americans as a founding member of the 
legendary band called Earth, Wind & Fire.
  Maurice ``Reese'' White was born on December 19, 1941, in Memphis, 
Tennessee.
  From a young age he displayed a true talent for playing music.
  He left Memphis to study music in Chicago at the elite Chicago 
Conservatory of Music.
  In 1963, Maurice White began working as a session drummer for Chess 
Records. Soon after, he began playing with the Ramsey Lewis Trio. In 
1969, he formed his own band, the Salty Peppers. After moving to Los 
Angeles, California, Maurice White renamed the band as Earth, Wind & 
Fire. He asked his younger brother, bassist Verdine White, to join his 
band. The band's first album failed to become a break out hit, which 
prompted Maurice White to shuffle the membership. Maurice White brought 
in several new members that included singer Philip Bailey, keyboardist 
Larry Dunn, and guitarist Al McKay. The band began experimenting with 
jazz, R&B, funk, soul, pop music, and African sounds.
  Then in 1973, with the new band members and a new sound, Earth, Wind 
& Fire released their first hit album titled Head to the Sky, selling 
more than 500,000 copies. The group continued to build on that success 
by producing a succession of gold and platinum albums throughout the 
1970s and the early 1980s. Maurice White helped compose many of the 
band's hits and the songs that helped define the decade: ``Shining 
Star,'' ``That's the Way of the World,'' ``Reasons,'' ``September,'' 
and ``Let's Groove.'' Maurice White won six Grammys with Earth, Wind & 
Fire, and received a solo award for his arrangement of ``Got To Get You 
Into My Life.'' Maurice White and Earth Wind & Fire were inducted into 
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
  Also, in 2000, Maurice White revealed to the world that he had been 
diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This announcement served as an 
explanation to his legion of loyal fans around the world for his 
decision to withdraw from performing. Despite the effects of his health 
condition, Maurice White decided to remain active in the Music industry 
by founding a new recording label called Kalimba Records. He also 
collaborated on Hot Feet, which was a musical set to Earth, Wind & Fire 
songs. Then in 2010, Maurice White was inducted into the Songwriters 
Hall of Fame. After a long battle with Parkinson's disease, Maurice 
White passed away in his sleep on February 3, 2016 in Los Angeles, 
California. Mr. Speaker, Maurice White leaves behind a legacy as one of 
the most innovative and unique artists and songwriters of the 21st 
century.

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