WHO’S THE GREATEST FUNK BASS PLAYER # 9 VERDINE WHITE

In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist’s who are in My “Who’s the Greatest Funk Bass Player” Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, its been Running for a Few Month’s, so if You haven’t already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post’s, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week! 

ARTIST NUMBER 9…………..VERDINE WHITE

Born on July 25th 1951, in Chicago IIIinois, Verdine White is the Bassist of Earth Wind and Fire.

His Older Bother is “Maurice White” who was the Founder of EW&F.

His Father “Verdine White Sr” was a Doctor and also Played the Saxophone in his spare time.

Verdine Grew up Listening to Miles Davis and John Coltrane  amongst others!

While still at School at the Age of around 15, Verdine  saw the Double Bass being Played in Music Classes and Decided that was what he wanted to Play!

Eventually he was taking Double Bass Lessons from Radi Velah of The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, this led to Advice from his Father and Maurice to take up the Electric Bass.

So at the Weekends he was also Learning the Electric Bass from “Louis Satterfield” who Worked for “Chess Records”

Satterfield was a Session Bassist and Trombonist at Chess, incidentally, Satterfield eventually became a Member of EW&F’s Backing Horn Section “The Phenix Horns”

Verdine White later Begun Working the “Chicago Club Scene” with Various Local Bands.

In 1970 Maurice White had Moved to Los Angeles to Hopefully “Get a Record Contract” with his Band , which was called “Salty Peppers”

Maurice White was soon to Rename his Band “Earth Wind and Fire” and he also asked his Brother “Verdine” to Join him in L.A. which he did in June of 1970!

Earth Wind and Fire Started Working on their Debut Album, Straight Away and By February of 1971, it was Released!

It was Called “Earth Wind and Fire” it was a Moderate Hit, Reaching Number 172 on the Pop Album Chart and number 24 on the “Black Album Chart”

The Second Album was Released by November of the Same Year (1971) and called “The Need of Love” it had More Success, it Reached Number 89 on the Pop Album Chart, but it also Contained EW&F’s First Pop Top 40 Hit Single “I Think About Lovin’ You” 

After 2 more Albums, their 5th Album Release in 1974 Entitled “Open Our Eyes” Reached Number One on the US R&B Charts!

Then the Following Year in 1975, Earth Wind and Fire Released their 6th Album Entitled “Thats The Way of the World” this was to go to Number 1 on both US Pop and R&B Charts and this was to Start a Run of 8 Albums (over a 12 Year Period) up until 1987 to Achieve Very High Chart Placing on both the US Pop and R&B Album Charts.

EARTH WIND AND FIRE DISCOGRAPHY

19 Studio Albums

4 Live Albums

17 Compilations

62 Singles

           EW&F Albums have Achieved the Following  Status:

11 x Platinum Albums

3 x 3 Platinum Albums

2 x Double Platinum

9 x Gold Albums

And Their “Best of Volume 1” Achieved 5 X Platinum

EW&F have had 8  Number 1 US R&B Singles!

Their Biggest Ever Single was “Shining Star” which Reached Number One on both US Pop and US R&B Charts in 1975!

Verdine White and Earth Wind and Fire are Still going Strong to this Day and they have Won Numerous Awards over the Years, Far Too Many to Mention in this Post!

           Have a Listen to Earth Wind & Fires Greatest Hits

Amazon.co.uk Widgets