Medical emergency postpones Earth, Wind & Fire concert
A band member suffered an emergency in San Francisco Aug. 6, prompting a Lionel Ritchie and Earth, Wind & Fire concert to be postponed.
Fox – Ktvu
Singer Shelly Clark White, wife of Earth, Wind & Fire bassist Verdine White, has an update on the band’s drummer John Paris after he was hospitalized ahead of a recent San Francisco concert.
Paris, 58, has been placed into an “induced coma” as doctors provide him with critical care following his medical crisis, according to an Aug. 15 post from the Facebook page Standing for John Paris. The page was reportedly “created by Shelly Clark White,” her husband and “longtime friend Tazz Cole.”
The post did not disclose the specifics of Paris’ condition but clarified that the decision to sedate him came after he experienced hypertension and had difficulty breathing.
“Over the past several days, we have intentionally kept many details of John’s condition private out of respect for him and his family,” the post states. “As information has begun to circulate publicly, we feel it’s important that everyone hears the story directly from us so there is no confusion about where things stand today.”
USA TODAY reached out to Earth, Wind & Fire representatives for comment regarding the statement shared on the Standing for John Paris Facebook page. A rep said they have not been in contact with her.
Elsewhere in the post, it was said that the band’s tour manager, Toshi, was by Paris’ side throughout the emergency and thanked her for her “steady presence, care, and support during those first moments.” Paris’ wife, Kathy Merrick, who performs with Shelly in the R&B group Honey Cone, and their daughter, Kyla, have also remained by his side, as has a close friend of Paris named Eddie.
“Then came a moment no one in the room will ever forget. John opened his eyes. He looked around the room and quietly asked, ‘Where’s Kathy?’ Once he saw her, you could feel the relief that swept through everyone,” the post reads. “Then he looked over at Eddie with that wonderfully wicked sense of humor that everyone who knows John has come to love and said, ‘Get me outta here man!'”
Everyone in the room saw the Paris they know and love for a “few precious moments,” the post stated, adding that “there were tears, laughter, hugs, and renewed hope. Sadly, that moment was short-lived.”
Doctors working to determine ‘safest path forward’
Paris’ blood pressure began to rise, and he experienced trouble breathing, so his medical team decided to sedate him to stabilize his body, according to the post.
“Today, John remains resting under sedation while his medical team carefully monitors him and determines the safest path forward,” the post reads. “Although this has been an emotional roller coaster, there have continued to be small moments that give those closest to him hope.”
“Even now, John appears to show slight responses when music is played. For a man whose life has been devoted to music, those moments have been incredibly meaningful to everyone at his bedside,” the post continues. “John’s journey is far from over. There is so much hope that surrounds him.”
His friends urged the public to continue showing kindness, encouragement and unwavering support through the family’s difficult days.
A GoFundMe page Clarke launched for Paris has raised more than $70,000 as of Aug. 15.
Paris was rushed to the hospital just before the Earth, Wind & Fire concert at Chase Center on Aug. 6 as part of the “September” band’s Sing a Song All Night Long Tour with Lionel Richie, which began June 24 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was cut short due to Richie experiencing a medical issue.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY