Throwback: Happy 70th Birthday, Fred White!

It’s January 2025 y’all! January is a busy month for music birthdays. Let’s get to it. 

• The pioneering and legendary Grandmaster Flash celebrated his 67th birthday on January 1
• Gang of Four co-founder and guitarist Andy Gill was born on this day 68 years ago on January 1
• Led Zeppelin‘s John Paul Jones celebrated his 79th 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 50th –yes, y’all, 50th! — birthday on January 3
• The legendary Stephen Stills, known for his work with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, as well as for being a solo artist, celebrates his 80th birthday on January 3
• Joy Division and New Order founder Bernard Sumner celebrated his 69th birthday on January 4
• Cocteau Twins‘ co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and producer Robin Guthriecelebrated his 63rd birthday on January 4
• Portishead frontperson Beth Gibbons celebrated her 59th birthday on January 4
• R.E.M. s Michael Stipe celebrated his 65th birthday on January 4
• Vanity was born 66 years ago on January 4
• Blondie co-founder and guitarist Chris Stein celebrated 75th birthday on January 5
• Sister Sledge‘s Kathy Sledge celebrated her 66th birthday on January 6
• AC/DC co-founder, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist Malcolm Young was born 72 years ago on January 6
• The Doors‘ Robby Krieger celebrated his 79th birthday on January 8
• The legendary David Bowie was born 78 years ago on January 8
• Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, one of the greatest guitarists to ever play celebrated his 81st birthday on January 9
• Steely Dan co-founder, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Donald Fagen celebrated his 77th birthday on January 10
• The legendary Rod Stewart celebrated his 80th — yes, 80th! — birthday on January 10
• Mary J. Blige, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul celebrated her 54th birthday on January 11
• Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon celebrated his 55th birthday on January 12
• Rage Against the Machine‘s  Zack de la Rocha celebrated his 55th 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 a couple of years ago, his contributions to that imitable and legendary sound will remain timeless. Happy birthday, Fred. Happy birthday, wherever you are!