Earth Wind & Fire's Verdine White pays tribute to late brother

Verdine White just revealed what made him drop his solo venture.

On December 19, 2024, what would’ve been the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire founder, Maurice White’s 83rd birthday, his brother and bandmate reminisced the impact of the iconic late musician’s music, by releasing the tribute song, Superman.

The artist, who has earned nine Grammy awards and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, responded over how he has gone over five decades without releasing any projects, telling PEOPLE magazine, "Isn't that crazy? Isn't it?"

"What kept becoming a reality was all those other records we did... all those great records that we did over the years,” saying how it was precisely the trophies and honours that kept him at a halt.

Verdine continued, "At this juncture, we are Earth, Wind & Fire, so we have more room and we can try different things, tribute things, all that stuff. Bringing [wife Shelly Clark] in to help me. She's a great singer, and she's a leader of Honey Cone, and we can work together," he added, as Verdine spoke of collaborating with Shelly, whom he married in 1980.

"['Superman'] was the brainchild of Janie Bradford, who's my wife's godmother," the Sing a Song crooner mentioned, adding, "Shelly produced the track and just really a lot of fun to do, and some of the musicians we had on it [are] John Paris, Earth, Wind & Fire's drummer, and Carnel Harrell. The Honey Cone, Shelly's group, and so it's all of us together."

Verdine White, reminiscing how the made the track together, also told the outlet, "We did it over a two to three-day period, and Shelly sat right there with me and did background [vocals] and went over lyrics. It was really great."