Moving toward a newly bought Fender Telecaster Bass instead of the upright bass, Verdine began working the Chicago club scene with local bands. Meanwhile, brother Maurice, who was a former session drummer at Chess Records and a member of pianist Ramsey Lewis' trio, had formed the Salty Peppers, scoring a local hit that caught the ears of Capitol Records.
In early 1970 Maurice moved to Los Angeles, hoping to record the group, which he had renamed Earth, Wind & Fire and called up Verdine asking whether he would like to join, which he did, arriving in Los Angeles on June 6, 1970.
Career
Earth, Wind & Fire
White performing in the Netherlands, 1982
As Earth, Wind & Fire's bassist since the band's inception, White has won six and received two honoree Grammy Awards, has been Grammy nominated eighteen times[3] and has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, to name a few honors.[4][5] The band has also earned more than 50 gold and platinum albums and have sold over 90 million albums worldwide.[6][7]
In November 2008 White was presented with Bass Player magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award by Nathan East.[8] On Friday, February 26, 2010, Verdine was inducted as a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity at the ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, California.[9] Verdine White holds an honorary doctorate degree from the American Conservatory of Music.
On July 2, 2020, Rolling Stone Australia Magazine ranked White number 19 on "The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time".[10]
On December 19, 2024, White released his first ever solo project entitled, "Superman", in honor of his late brother and founder of Earth, Wind & Fire Maurice White. The song was written by White, Motown songwriter Janie Bradford and Carnell Harrell. The song was produced by White's wife Shelly Clark who is a member of the 70s group Honey Cone. It's White's first time out as lead singer. Honey Cone members Shelly Clark, Kathy Merrick and Wendy Smith-Brune are on background vocals. Earth, Wind & Fire's drummer John Paris did all of the musical arrangements.[11][12]
Songwriter
White's credits as a songwriter date back to Earth, Wind & Fire's self-titled debut studio album, on which White co-wrote "C'mon Children" and "Bad Tune". White co-wrote three songs on their third album, Last Days and Time. He had one writing credit on their fourth album, Head To The Sky. On their fifth album, Open Our Eyes, White co-wrote the group's first top 5 R&B/Soul hit (No. 4), "Mighty, Mighty" along with his brother Maurice. They also co-wrote, "Kalimba Story", a top 10 R&B/Soul hit (No. 6). These two songs along with their single, "Devotion" (No. 23), helped the album top Billboard's Soul Album Chart, given them their first No. 1 album. White's co-writes include some of Earth, Wind & Fire's biggest hits, such as "That's the Way of the World".
White is credited on many artist's songs as heard in commercials, movie soundtracks, and televisions shows.[13]
Other work
Philanthropy
White is the co-founder and director of the Verdine White Foundation, which aims to provide musical education to underprivileged and gifted students.[14] During 2007 he was as well inducted into the Boys and Girls Club's Alumni Hall of Fame.[15][16]
White is the founder of the non profit organization, The Verdine White Performing Arts Center (VWPAC), located in Los Angeles. Founded in 2010, VWPAC encourages students to reach their fullest potential as artists and people, equipped with a well-rounded performing arts education and the confidence to take on whatever path they choose within the arts.[17]
Author
In 1978, White co-authored a book with Louis Satterfield, Playing the Bass Guitar.[18]
Personal life
Verdine White lives in Los Angeles in a house built in 1919, with his wife of 40 years Shelly Clark. She was once a member of R&B groups The Ikettes and Honey Cone. They have a son and a granddaughter. He also has a twin sister by the name of Geraldine. He is the younger half-brother of Earth, Wind, and Fire band founder Maurice White (December 19, 1941 – February 4, 2016), and older brother of drummer Fred White (January 13, 1955 – January 1, 2023), and Monte White, (October 16, 1953 - April 21, 2020). Both were members of Earth, Wind & Fire. Fred played drums and percussion as a band member from 1974 to 1984 and was inducted with the band into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Monte served as the group's tour manager from 1974 to 1984.[19]
Discography
White with Earth Wind, and Fire performing in 2010 in the Netherlands
Solo project
2024 Verdine White: "Superman" – (Co-writer, Lead vocals and bass)
