“Alan White, our beloved husband, dad, and grandpa, passed away at the age of 72 at his Seattle-area home on May 26, 2022, after a brief illness,” the post read.
“Throughout his life and six-decade career, Alan was many things to many people: a certified rock star to fans around the world, band mate to a select few, and gentleman and friend to all who met him.”
White’s bandmates said they will dedicate their “Close to the Edge” UK tour in June to their “much-loved drummer.”
Following news of his death, tributes from celebrities and musicians from across the globe flooded social media.
She added: “He was always gentle, kind & good humored. We were blessed he was part of our family.”
White began playing the drums at age 12 and was performing in public within a year, his family said in its Facebook post.
He played with several other bands before joining Yes, including the Downbeats, the Gamblers and Bell & Arc.
In 1969, John Lennon invited White to join the Plastic Ono Band, which led to him featuring on several Lennon albums, including “Imagine.”
When White joined Yes in July 1972, he had just three days to learn the songs before the start of a big US tour, his family said. He contributed to hits including “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” “Long Distance Runaround” and “Roundabout.”
His long musical career also saw him work with stars including George Harrison, Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton.
White was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yes in 2017.
