Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit KELLY MCEVERS, HOST: The founder of Earth, Wind and Fire has died. Maurice White has Parkinson's disease for many years. He died at his home here in Los Angeles at the age of 74. NPR's Ted Robbins has this appreciation. TED ROBBINS, BYLINE: Earth, Wind and Fire's lush sound and upbeat lyrics were the essence of R and B and disco in the 1970s and '80s. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SHINING STAR") EARTH, WIND AND FIRE: (Singing) When you wish upon a star, your dreams will take you very far, yeah. ROBBINS: "Shining Star" was the group's first number one hit in 1974. Maurice White wrote it as he did most of the group's hits. He was born in Memphis in 1941 and moved to Chicago as a session drummer for Chess Records. Eventually, he moved to LA where he formed Earth, Wind and Fire. In an interview for Fender Rhodes, he said his songwriting drew from jazz, blues and gospel. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) MAURICE WHITE: And I would take the music that was very
↧