Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris moves to rehab after two months in hospital with spinal cord injury

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026 · last updated 10 October 2026.

John Paris, 58, has left hospital and entered a rehabilitation centre after more than two months of treatment following a cardiac incident and spinal cord injury suffered in August. His family revealed he had NO health insurance when the emergency struck, leaving the couple facing a financial crisis far beyond what they initially anticipated. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $100,000 to help Paris and wife Kathy Merrick, who spent months away from their Los Angeles home.

Paris collapsed on 6 August ahead of an Earth, Wind & Fire show with Lionel Richie in San Francisco and was placed in a medically induced coma.

His family warned the rehabilitation move is 'not the end of his journey' and that a 'long road' of medical needs still lies ahead.

Paris and his wife are pursuing Medicare and workers' compensation, but the family says donations will ultimately determine what support they can access.