Throwback: Happy 69th Birthday, Fred White!

January is a busy and auspicious month in music history:

• Legendary hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash celebrated his 66th birthday on January 1
• Led Zeppelin‘s and Them Crooked Vultures‘ John Paul Jones celebrated his 78th birthday on January 3
• French touch pioneer Thomas Bangalter, best known for his work in Stardust and the multi-Grammy Award-winning duo Daft Punk celebrated his 49th birthday on January 
• R.E.M.’s  Michael Stipe celebrated his 64th birthday on January 4
• Joy Division and New Order founder Bernard Sumner celebrated his 68th birthday on January 4
• Cocteau Twins‘ co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and producer Robin Guthriecelebrated his 62nd birthday on January 4
• Portishead frontperson Beth Gibbons celebrates her 58th birthday on January 4
• The 65th anniversary of singer, model, actress and Prince protegé Denise Katrina Matthews, a.k.a. Vanity was on January 4
• Blondie co-founder and guitarist Chris Stein celebrated his 74th birthday on January 5
• AC/DC co-founder, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist Malcom Young was born 71 years ago on January 6
• Sister Sledge‘s Kathy Sledge celebrated her 65th birthday today on January 6
• The Doors‘ Robby Krieger celebrated his 78th on January 8
• The legendary David Bowie was born 77 years ago on January 8
• Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page celebrated his 80th birthday on January 9
• Steely Dan co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Donald Fagen celebrates his 76th birthday on January 10
• Mary J. Blige, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul celebrated her 53rd birthday on January 11
• Rage Against the Machine‘s  Zack de la Rocha celebrated his 54th birthday on January 12
• Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon celebrated his 54th birthday on January 12

Earth Wind and Fire’s Fred White was born on this day in 1955. Founded in Chicago back in 1969, Earth Wind and Fire is one of the most commercially successful acts ever: They’ve sold over 90 million records globally. Along with that they’ve been nominated for 17 Grammys and have won six. They’ve been nominated for 12 American Music Awards and have won four. They’ve also received an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, a BET Lifetime Achievement Award, a Soul Train Legend Award, a NARAS Signature Governor’s Award, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2012 Congressional Horizon Award and they were a Kennedy Center Honors Honoree back in 2019.

None of that should be surprising. The legendary soul act has written and recorded a batch of beloved — and funky! — songs that have brought millions across the world a lot of joy and fond memories.

Although we lost White last year, his contributions to that imitable and legendary sound will remain timeless. Happy birthday, Fred. Happy birthday, wherever you are!