Associate Reporter, HuffPost
Andrew Woolfolk, a longtime saxophone player for Earth, Wind & Fire, died on Sunday after a six-year battle with an undisclosed illness. He was 71.
His death was announced Tuesday by another founding member of the band, Philip Bailey, on Instagram.
Bailey talked about his decades-long musical relationship with Woolfolk, writing, “I met him in High School, and we quickly became friends and band mates.”
“We lost him today, after being ill of over 6 years,” Bailey added. “He has Transitioned on to the forever, from this Land of the dying to the Land of the Living.”
A post shared by Philip J. Bailey (@philipbaileyewf)
Woolfolk, born in 1950 in San Antonio, joined Earth, Wind & Fire in 1972. He was a member of the iconic band from 1973 to 1985, then from 1987 to 1993.
Woolfolk, known for his high-intensity brand of play on the sax, carried Earth, Wind & Fire through some of their most beloved songs, including “Let’s Groove,” “After the Love Has Gone” and the party perennial “September.”
The Grammy-winning musician was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 as part of Earth, Wind & Fire.
In February 2016, lead singer and founding member of the band Maurice White died of Parkinson’s disease at age 74.
Associate Reporter, HuffPost
