Earth, Wind & Fire Biography, Photos and Posters

Earth, Wind & Fire

Biography

Started: 1969
City and Country of Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Music Background:
Awards: 2000 inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Grammy 1982 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, "Wanna Be With You;" 1979 Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus, "After The Love Has Gone;" Best R&B Instrumental Performance, "Boogie Wonderland;" 1978 Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus, All 'n All; Best R&B Instrumental Performance, "Runnin';" 1975 Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus, "Shining Star"
Top Recordings: "After the Love Has Gone," "September," "Reasons," "Let's Groove," "Boogie Wonderland," "Fantasy," and "Shining Star"
Earth, Wind & Fire Biography: The group was named after the elemental quality of Fire and the seasonal qualities of Earth and Air in the sign Sagittarius the birth sign of bandleader Maurice White. White began his recording career as a session drummer for Chess Records was also a member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio. He then formed a band called the Salty Peppers, who after signing with Capitol Records had a regional hit with "La La Time".

Taking a hint from the title of his hit record White moved the group to Los Angeles, California and changed its name to Earth, Wind & Fire. The groups first West Coast effort was a self titled album which received critical acclaim as did their follow up The Need of Love in 1971, however, neither album was a financial success. In 1972 White revamped the group, keeping just himself and his brother Verdine while adding Jessica Cleaves (vocals), Ronnie Laws (flute, saxophone), Larry Dunn (keyboard), Ralph Johnson (percussion) and Philip Bailey (vocals, formerly of Friends & Love). The new group was signed by Clive Davis of CBS Records and immediately released Last Days and Time without much success. More changes were made Laws and Bautista left the band, and Andrew Woolfolk, Al McKay, and Johnny Graham were added. 1973's Keep Your Head to the Sky was a moderate success, but the following year's Open Our Eyes was a major hit.

The group, however, did not become a mainstream success until 1975 when they released the soundtrack to That's the Way of the World. Although the film did not do well the single "Shining Star" became a major hit. The group now had Fred White on drums and for the first time they had a full horn section. Spirit released in 76 produced hit singles "Getaway" and "Imagination." 1977's All 'N All featured "I'll Write A Song For You", "Serpentine Fire","Be Ever Wonderful" ,"Love's Holiday" and the pop hit "Fantasy."

In 1979 the band performed "September" at the Music for UNICEF Concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly. I Am released later that year contained the hit single "After The Love Is Gone". The double album Faces released in 1980 and Raise! released in 1981 which featured "Let's Groove," and Powerlight which included the single "Fall In Love With Me," were groups last major recordings. White disbanded the group in 1983 after Electric Universe was released to poor sales.

In 1987 the band released the reunion album Touch the World, but the band was unable to achieve the success they had during the 70s. 1990's Heritage and 1993's Millennium also failed to make a major impact on the music scene although "Sunday Morning" from Millennium was nominated for a Grammy Award. However, during the 90s the band did experience a renaissance of sorts as more radio stations began playing their old recordings from the 70s. In 2002 Maurice White released 2 Earth, Wind & Fire albums on his own label Kalimba Records. Live In Rio was a live album recorded during a 1980 tour and The Promise was the bands first new all-studio recording in 6 years. During 2004-5 the group toured with band Chicago. A DVD of the tour went solid platinum.

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