The long-time saxophone player Andrew Woolfolk from Earth, Wind & Fire has died. Philip Bailey, Woolfolk’s Earth, Wind & Fire bandmate, stated on an Instagram post that Woolfolk had been battling a severe illness for the past few years. He was 71 years old.
Woolfolk entered the band in 1972 and remained with the band until 1985. He re-joined the band in 1987 after a sabbatical and stayed in that role until 1993. Since Woolfolk and Bailey had known each other from their high school days, Bailey had recruited him to join the group following the departure of Ronnie Laws. Woolfolk’s tenure with Earth, Wind & Fire encompassed a significant share of the band’s most hit material, featuring “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” and “Shining Star.” He and the rest of the band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
In addition to Earth, Wind & Fire, Woolfolk also worked as a session and touring musician for various other performers, including Phil Collins, Bailey, Deniece Williams, and Level 42.
