Maurice White, Earth, Wind & Fire Leader, Dies

(CBS) -- Maurice White, founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, has died at age 74.

White lived in Chicago as a teenager and later played as a session drummer at Chess Records recording studio on the South Side.

In the the late 1960s, White formed a band in Chicago "The Salty Peppers" that was the precursor to Earth, Wind & Fire, which included his younger brother, bass player Verdine White.

White stopped touring with the band in the 1990s after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

White helped compose many of the group's hits, such as "Shining Star," "September" and "Let's Groove."

White won six Grammys with the band.

The group went on to sell more than 90 million albums worldwide.

The band's many hits included "September," ''Shining Star," a cover of the Beatles' "Got to Get You into My Life" and "Boogie Wonderland."

Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Contributing: Associated Press