Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American funk band, formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Led by Maurice White, they are best known for their hits of the 1970s, among them "After the Love Has Gone", "Reasons" and "Shining Star".

History

Early years

Bandleader Maurice White began his recording career as a session drummer, working for Chess Records. After spending time as a member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, he formed a band called The Salty Peppers and signed to Capitol Records, releasing a regionally successful single called "La La Time".

Related Topics:
Maurice White - Chess Records - Ramsey Lewis - Capitol Records

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White moved his band to Los Angeles, California and changed its name to "Earth, Wind & Fire". Their self-titled debut album, Earth, Wind & Fire, was released in 1970 to great critical acclaim, as was The Need of Love (1971). However, neither album was commercially successful.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles, California - Earth, Wind & Fire - 1970 - 1971

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In 1972, White dissolved the line-up (minus himself and brother Verdine White), and added Jessica Cleaves (vocals), Ronnie Laws (flute, saxophone), Larry Dunn (keyboard), Ralph Johnson (percussion) and Philip Bailey (vocals, formerly of Friends & Love). The new line-up was signed to CBS Records by Clive Davis and released Last Days and Time without much success. At this time, Claves, Laws and Bautista left the band, and Andrew Woolfolk, Al McKay, and Johnny Graham were added to the lineup. The Keep Your Head to the Sky album (1973) was a moderate success, but 1974's Open Our Eyes was a major hit.

Related Topics:
1972 - Flute - Saxophone - Keyboard - Percussion - CBS Records - Clive Davis - 1973 - 1974

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Breakthrough success

Earth, Wind & Fire's true breakthrough, however, came in the form of the soundtrack to That's the Way of the World in 1975. Though the film was not a success, the song "Shining Star" became a huge mainstream hit and launched the band's career.

Related Topics:
Soundtrack - 1975 - Film

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Also in 1975, Earth, Wind & Fire released Gratitude, a live album which featured performances of singles from previous albums such as "Sun Goddess" with jazz legend Ramsey Lewis, "Shining Star", and the quiet storm classic "Reasons". New studio hits such as "Sing A Song" and "Can't Hide Love" were also included.

Related Topics:
1975 - Gratitude - Live album - Ramsey Lewis - Quiet storm

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Earth Wind & Fire released Spirit in 1976; and had hits with singles such as "Getaway" and "Imagine." During the recording of this album, producer and songwriter Charles Stepney died of a heart attack. In 1977, the group released another classic album, All 'N All, featuring songs such as "I'll Write A Song For You", "Serpentine Fire", "Love's Holiday" and the pop hit "Fantasy."

Related Topics:
Spirit - 1976 - Producer - Songwriter - Heart attack - 1977 - All 'N All

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Two years later, the band released the critically acclaimed I Am with the mainstream ballad "After The Love Is Gone". After the releases of Faces (1980) plus Raise! (1981), and Powerlight which featured the popular singles "Let's Groove", and "Fall In Love With Me" respectively, the band's success started to wane. White disbanded Earth, Wind & Fire in 1983 after Electric Universe was released to poor sales and reviews.

Related Topics:
1980 - 1981 - 1983 - Electric Universe

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Later years

A 1987 Earth, Wind & Fire reunion with the album Touch the World was a mild success, but the band was never able to return to the kind of success they had achieved in the 1970s. The band continued to periodically release new albums, including 1990's Heritage and 1993's Millennium.

Related Topics:
1987 - 1970s - 1990 - 1993

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Beginning in the 1990s many radio formats began stressing the classic sounds of the 1970s, and Earth, Wind & Fire's dynamic arrangements and soaring vocals became a familiar sound again on American airwaves.

Related Topics:
1990s - Radio format

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In 1993, saxophonist Don Myrick was fatally shot by the Los Angeles Police Department in a case of mistaken identity. Five years later, Maurice White announced that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

Related Topics:
1993 - Los Angeles Police Department - Parkinson's Disease

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Maurice White released two new Earth, Wind & Fire albums on his own label, Kalimba Records, in 2002: Live In Rio, a live album from a 1980 tour, and The Promise, the band's first all-new studio album in six years. The Promise received good reviews upon its release, and was first issued in the United States and Japan; it was issued in Europe in early 2004.

Related Topics:
2002 - Live album - 1980 - Japan - Europe - 2004

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In the summer of 2004, Earth, Wind & Fire signed an exclusive record deal with Sanctuary Urban Records Group, owned by Matthew Knowles, father and manager of pop star Beyoncé. A new album, Illumination, is scheduled for release September 20, 2005. The album's first single is "Show Me the Way", featuring Raphael Saadiq http://www.philipbailey.com/.

Related Topics:
Summer - 2004 - Sanctuary Urban Records Group - Matthew Knowles - Pop - Beyoncé - September 20 - 2005 - Raphael Saadiq

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Earth Wind & Fire were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.

Related Topics:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - 2000 - Vocal Group Hall of Fame - 2003

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In 2004-2005 Earth, Wind & Fire toured jointly with the band Chicago; a DVD recorded during that tour, Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire - Live at the Greek Theatre, was certified platinum just two months after its release.

Related Topics:
Chicago - DVD - Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire - Live at the Greek Theatre

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Earth, Wind & Fire's 23rd career album Illumination is set to be released Tuesday September 20th through Sanctuary Records Group.

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In 2005 trombonist Louis Satterfield died.

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