'The news has shocked and stunned the entire YES family,' the band wrote in a statement.
The band’s tribute noted that White was “considered one of the greatest drummers of all time.” White — who was born in County Durham, England, on June 14, 1949 — joined Yes in the summer of 1972, after original drummer Bill Bruford left to join King Crimson. Prior to that, John Lennon in 1969 invited him to join the late Beatle and Yoko Ono’s Plastic Ono Band; White contributed to Lennon’s album, including the iconic title track.
His work with Lennon also resulted in White’s collaboration with another Beatle — he played drums on George Harrison’s 1970 release Yes found chart success in the United States with hits such as “Owner of a Lonely Heart” off 1983’s; the song reached the summit of the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1984. Other hit singles include “Roundabout” — from 1971’s, which reached a high of No. 24. While Yes did not have any No.