Earth, Wind & Fire Reflect on Late 'Mentor' Maurice White: 'We Know What That Standard Is' Because of Him (Exclusive)

The legendary musicians pay homage to the group's late founder , who died in 2016, in conversation with PEOPLE

Despite achieving virtually all of the possible successes one could in the music world, the members of Earth, Wind & Fire are quick to point out that they wouldn't be here today if not for the band's late founder, Maurice White, who died in 2016 at 74 years old from Parkinson's disease..

In conversation with PEOPLE, the group's primaries, Verdine White, Philip Bailey and Ralph Johnson, reflect on Maurice's role as the "architect" of the legendary ensemble.

"I don't think we could have dreamt that we were going to make 50 years in and be relevant, be relevant in the culture," Bailey, 73, shares. "I don't think anybody really foresees that, but it's a testament to Maurice's vision of making music that is bigger than bigger in ourselves of music that renders a service to humanity and a music that makes people feel better."

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"You feel better when you leave than when you came. That's the beauty of this particular show and Earth, Wind & Fire who's part of everybody's lives," Verdine, 73, adds, with Bailey noting that in "trying to be the best band in the whole world" the group has always attempted to "maintain, keep that standard, that Maurice, the architect [did]."

Fans may already know that Earth, Wind & Fire was named as an homage to Maurice's astrological sign, Sagittarius, as those are its three defining elements. However, the band further considers its ethos and music to envoke "a bridge that brings [people] together, at least if only for a few hours."

Johnson notes that even after decades of live performances, the group is still "looking to do a personal best" each show "and every one of us, and we take it very seriously."

That work ethic, as Verdine says, is in-part due to Maurice's influence over the group for so many years.

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To the award-winning bassist, Maurice "being an older brother and a teacher and a mentor and learning a lot about music from him and as well as life" was an undeniable influence on him both growing up and as adult bandmates. "He taught us how to really hold our standards up to the highest levels, which we're still doing today with the three of us, with Philip and Ralph and myself."

Thanks to Maurice, Verdine shares "we know what that standard is, the three of us."

"He was a big champion of the greats that have come before us. And so we still get a lot of inspiration, not only from a lot of the artists and artistic artists of today, but the artists that came before us have paved the way and given us the torch," Bailey adds,

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Read the original article on People.