Solange, Questlove, Estelle, Lenny Kravitz & More Celebs Remember Maurice White

Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. The news was confirmed by his brother Verdine White.

White, who was 74, suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and had retreated from the public even as the band he founded kept performing.

Verdine told the Associated Press,

My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep. While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.

Our brother Maurice White passed peacefully in his sleep this morning.

The light is he, shining on you and me. pic.twitter.com/ppWTHKUyG6

— Earth, Wind & Fire (@EarthWindFire) February 4, 2016

Celebrities have taken to social media, remembering the legendary singer.

Maurice White. You were there when we were born,when we graduated,when we connected with our families,when we mourned,when we got married.

— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 5, 2016

Maurice White. I listened to you ever single day at my mothers hair salon, & I didn’t understand what you made me feel, but you were a hero.

— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 5, 2016

Rest in Peace Mr Maurice White. #EarthWindAndFire condolences to the family.

— Estelle (@EstelleDarlings) February 4, 2016

Maurice was our cheerleader…..i swear to god I did about 7 drafts and erased it. Look. I just really wanna thank him and thank all the members of #EWF shining that light brighter. You know how hard it is to present Afrocentric Jazz & spiritual positivity in the face of what we had to deal with in the 70s? When times were hard sometimes the only release you had was music. & if it wasn’t Stevie, you were reaching for your #EarthWindAndFire albums. I would get so lost in those records man. Just lose myself. Fav logo ever. The interludes (specially the One after “All Bout Love” (“Steph”) id “pause tape” that minute interlude for 45 mins on cassette—that alone would put me in a positive trance to face another day selling insurance to pay for the Roots demo.–seriously it was either that tape or drugs to ease my mind—I chose the music)–but if you really look at it —-it’s limiting to say #EWF was our black Floyd or the Black Beatles to Pfunk’s Stones—look I’m rambling—I just got done work, working on 3 projects and getting ready for #BowlTrain —but this really hurts man. Maurice really truly made African art so sophisticated & beautiful. —I feel like erasing this and starting again but you know where my heart is. #MauriceWhite

A photo posted by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on Feb 4, 2016 at 4:27pm PST

#MauriceWhite. King. Genius. Leader. Teacher. Producer. Arranger. Writer. Multi-instrumentalist. Motivator. Mystic. Through his music and artistic expression, he taught me a lifetime’s worth of knowledge. He is at the top of the list of all of the greatest masters. The music he left behind as Earth, Wind and Fire, mixed with his messages of love, will live on forever. #RIPMaurice #earthwindandfire

A photo posted by Lenny Kravitz (@lennykravitz) on Feb 4, 2016 at 5:29pm PST

Another gift has gone on….grateful we will always be, for #MauriceWhite‘s #blessings in song. #EarthWindAndFire pic.twitter.com/Cs2LPxmhXy

— Kim Fields (@KimVFields) February 5, 2016

Wisdom. Rest in peace, Sir. #MauriceWhite #EarthWindAndFire REPOST from @ayomillions #RIP #MauriceWhite #EarthWindAndFire

A video posted by Yvette Nicole Brown (@yvettenicolebrown) on Feb 4, 2016 at 3:19pm PST

Making Heavenly Music.
Too much loss.#MauriceWhite #NatalieCole pic.twitter.com/HX1fxB0BmF

— Holly Robinson Peete (@hollyrpeete) February 5, 2016

you’re free now …untill the 12 of never. thank you so much Maurice. #MauriceWhite

A photo posted by Miguel (@miguel) on Feb 4, 2016 at 4:30pm PST

Had the honor and privilege to record with thee ICONIC talent #MauriceWhite leader of my favorite band #EWF #RIP ?? pic.twitter.com/T8U3rUMa6E

— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) February 5, 2016

Awwww man?. #MauriceWhite your music is the template of spirituality and greatness. THANK YOU. Be Ever Wonderful . pic.twitter.com/uXJjthnVKE

— ?Jill Scott? (@missjillscott) February 5, 2016

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