Earth, Wind & Fire postpone Lionel Richie show after band medical emergency

Earth, Wind & Fire have been forced to postpone a show with Lionel Richie after a band member suffered a "medical emergency".

The iconic funk group were due to support Richie at San Francisco's Chase Center on Thursday as part of his Sing a Song All Night Long Tour.

However, just minutes before the concert was due to begin, Earth, Wind & Fire announced it had been postponed.

"We are unable to perform as scheduled tonight at Chase Center in San Francisco due to a medical emergency involving a member of our band," the group wrote in an Instagram statement. "As a result, tonight's show with Lionel Richie will be rescheduled, with a new date to be announced soon."

The statement concluded by apologising for the "unexpected change".

"We sincerely apologize for the unexpected change and appreciate everyone's understanding," it read.

While the group did not identify the affected musician or provide further details, TMZ reported that the band member was taken to hospital in a critical condition after suffering a "cardiac incident". According to the outlet, paramedics transported the musician from the Chase Center shortly before the show was due to begin.

Earth, Wind & Fire's current line-up includes Verdine White, Philip Bailey, Myron McKinley, Oshun Shango Oshunde, Morris O'Connor, Serg Dimitrijevic, John Paris, B. David Whitworth and Ralph Johnson.

The news comes just over a month after Richie was forced to postpone two tour dates following a health scare during the opening night of the tour in St Paul, Minnesota.

The four-time Grammy winner left the performance early after feeling unwell. His Chicago and Columbus shows were postponed before he resumed the tour in Pittsburgh after doctors advised him to rest.

Taking to Instagram at the time, Richie insisted that he was "doing well" and thanked fans for "every kind word".

He added, "Pittsburgh and Detroit were an absolute joy. The energy, the dancing, the faces in the crowd... we made real memories together. See you in Toronto... let's party all night long."