On February 4, 2016, Maurice White, a legendary musician, songwriter, vocalist, and producer, passed away at the age of 74. His life and career were marked by achievements ranging from numerous diverse music projects to multiple Grammy awards. White, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, originally played in various jazz and R&B groups throughout the 1950s and 60s, most notably the Ramsey Lewis Trio. In the late 1960s, White created the renowned band Earth, Wind & Fire. Under White's lead, the group produced timeless songs built on spiritual influences and utilising the genres of jazz, funk, soul, and rock. Through his professional musical career, he co-wrote and co-produced hits such as “Sing a Song,” “Shining Star,” and “September.” With the majority of the production credits and songwriting under his leadership, White wrote million-selling hits for a variety of artists ranging from Barbra Streisand to Neil Diamond. Earth, Wind & Fire received an astonishing twenty Grammy nominations during White's tenure, and won seven. Later in his career White founded Kalimba Music Productions, an independent label and music publishing company he created in 1975 to support independent musicians. His business achievements were recognised when the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers named him Songwriter of the Year for 1985. White's successes were continuous up until the end of his career, and his influence will continue to be felt for many years to come.