Who is Verdine White?
Verdine Adams White is a recognized American musician, famous as a founding member and bassist for the band Earth, Wind & Fire. He was placed at number 19 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time.
Verdine White Career
Earth, Wind & Fire
As Earth, Wind & Fire’s bassist since the band’s formation, he has won six and earned 2 honorees Grammy Awards, and has been Grammy nominated 18 times. He has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame to name a few honors. The band has also received over 50 gold and platinum albums and has sold more than 90 million albums worldwide.
White was then presented with Bass Player magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award by Nathan East in November 2008. On Friday, February 26, 2010, he 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. He holds an honorary doctorate degree from the American Conservatory of Music. Rolling Stone Australia Magazine ranked him number 19 on ”The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time”, on July 2, 2020.
Songwriter
His credits as a songwriter date back to Earth, Wind & Fire’s self-titled debut studio album, on which he co-wrote ”C’mon Children” and ”Bad Tune”. Verdine co-wrote 3 songs on their third album, Last Days and Time. He then had one writing credit on their 4th album, Head To The Sky. On their 5th album, Open Our Eyes, he co-wrote the group’s first top 5 R&B/Soul hit (No.4), ”Mighty, Mighty” together with his brother Maurice. They also co-wrote, ”Kalimba Story”, a top 10 R&B/Soul hit (No. 6). The two songs together with their single, ”Devotion” (No. 23), assisted the album top Billboard’s Soul Album Chart, given them their first No. 1 album. His co-writes comprise some of Earth, Wind & Fire’s biggest hits, including ”That’s the Way of the World”. He is also credited with many artists’ songs as heard in commercials, movie soundtracks, and television shows.
Philanthropy
He is the co-founder and director of the Verdine White Foundation, which focuses to provide musical education to underprivileged and gifted students. In 2007, White was also inducted into the Boys and Girls Club’s Alumni Hall of Fame. He is the founder of the nonprofit organization, The Verdine White Performing Arts Center (VWPAC) located in Los Angeles. It was founded in 2010, to encourage students to attain 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.
Author
Verdine co-authored a book with Loius Satterfield, ”Playing Bass Guitar, A Beginner’s Guide To The Electric Bass”, in 2012.
How old is Verdine White?
Verdine Adams White is currently aged 71 years having been born on July 25, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. He shares his birthday with famous people including Emily Ha, Juwany Roman, Meg Donnelly, Matt LeBlanc, King Quran, James Lafferty, Walter Payton, Finn Balor, and many more.
Verdine White Family
Who are Verdine White’s parents?
Verdine Adams White was born in Chicago, Illinois to Verdine Sr. and his wife. His father was a doctor who also played the saxophone
Does Verdine White have siblings?
White comes from a family of five children. He has two brothers, half-brother Maurice White, and brother Fred White who are drummers. White also has a twin sister named Geraldine White, and a brother Monte White.
Verdine White Education
White attended high school in his hometown at Richard T. Crane Medical Prep High School. There he decided he wanted to play bass after seeing a double bass in the orchestra class.
Verdine White Interests
White grew up listening to recordings of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and other Jazz musicians. He was then influenced by The Beatles, Cleveland Eaton, the Motown sound, and his two drummer brothers. White learned the electric bass with Chess Records session bassist and trombonist Louis Satterfield, and later became a member of Earth, Wind & Fire’s famed horn section, The Phenix Horns. He learned everything about the bass guitar from Louis Satterfield, and some of his early bass influences were Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, and Gary Karr.
Verdine White Spouse
White is currently married to his longtime partner and wife Shelly Clark for 40 years. Shelly was once a member of R&B groups The Ikettes and Honey Cone. The couple lives in Los Angeles in a house built in 1919 and has one child and a granddaughter.
Verdine White Kids
White and Clark have one child in their 40 years of marriage together. The couple has one son and also a granddaughter.
Verdine White Height
White has a well-built, muscular, and physically fit body with a height of 5 ft 10 in (1.77 m) and a weight of 77 kg (169 lbs).
Verdine White Net Worth
American professional musician White has been active from 1969 to the present in the music industry, playing the bass guitar. He is a founding member and bassist for the band Earth, Wind & Fire and has a net worth of $10 million as of 2023.