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Earth, Wind & Fire

March 23, 2023

Not to be confused with Earth and Fire.
For the elements, see Classical element. For the 2013 Cappadonna album, see Eyrth, Wynd and Fyre.

Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin, and Afro pop.[2][3] They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.[4][5][6]

Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire performing in 2009
Background information
Also known as
  • EW&F
  • EWF
OriginChicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Years active1969–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Websiteearthwindandfire.com

The band was founded in Chicago by Maurice White in 1969, growing out of the Salty Peppers.[4][7] Prominent members have included Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson, Larry Dunn, Al McKay, Roland Bautista, Robert Brookins, Sonny Emory, Fred Ravel, Ronnie Laws, Sheldon Reynolds and Andrew Woolfolk.[8] The band is known for its kalimba sound, dynamic horn section, energetic and elaborate stage shows, and the contrast between Bailey's falsetto and Maurice's baritone.[9][10]

The band has won 6 Grammys out of 17 nominations[11] and four American Music Awards out of 12 nominations.[2] They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame, and Hollywood's Rockwalk, and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The band has received an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, a BET Lifetime Achievement Award, a Soul Train Legend Award,[2][12] a NARAS Signature Governor's Award,[2] a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award,[2][11] the 2012 Congressional Horizon Award,[13] and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2019.[14] Rolling Stone has called them "innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing" and declared that the band "changed the sound of black pop".[15] VH1 has described EWF as "one of the greatest bands".[9]

History

1969–1970: Beginnings

In 1969, Maurice White, a former session drummer for Chess Records and former member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, joined two friends in Chicago, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, as a songwriting team. They wrote songs and commercials in the Chicago area. The three friends got a recording contract with Capitol Records. Calling themselves "The Salty Peppers", they had a marginal hit single in the Midwest titled "La La Time".[10][16]

The Salty Peppers' second single, "Uh Huh Yeah", did not fare as well. Maurice moved from Chicago to Los Angeles. He added singer Sherry Scott[17] and percussionist Yackov Ben Israel, both from Chicago, to the band. He asked his younger brother Verdine to join and on June 6, 1970, Verdine moved from Chicago to LA to become the band's bassist. Maurice began shopping demo tapes featuring Donny Hathaway to various record labels and the band eventually signed to Warner Bros. Records.[10]

1970–1974: Formation and early years

Maurice's astrological sign, Sagittarius, has a primary elemental quality of fire and seasonal qualities of earth and air, according to classical triplicities. Sagittarius in the northern hemisphere occurs in the autumn, whose element is earth, and in the southern hemisphere, it is spring, whose element is air. Hence the omission of Water, the fourth classical element. Based on this, he changed the band's name, to "Earth, Wind & Fire". Maurice held further auditions in L.A, adding Michael Beal on guitar, Chester Washington on reeds, and Leslie Drayton on trumpet. Maurice was a percussionist and lead vocalist. Drayton served as the group's arranger. Trombonist Alex Thomas completed the then ten-man lineup. Warner Bros designated Joe Wissert to be the band's producer.[4][10][18]

Earth, Wind & Fire

The band's self-titled debut album was released in February 1971 on Warner Bros. The album got to No. 24 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and was certified Gold in France by the SNEP.[19][20][21]

Lester Bangs of Rolling Stone noted a "heavy Sly influence" and the "smooth harmonies" of The Fifth Dimension on the LP.[22] Bob Talbert of the Detroit Free Press also wrote "I'm not sure what to call this group. Afro-gospel-jazz-blues-rock? Must there be a label?".[23]

Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song

EWF went on to supply the entire soundtrack of the Melvin Van Peebles feature film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. The soundtrack, composed by Van Peebles, was released in April 1971 on Stax Records.[24] The album reached No. 13 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.[25]

The Need of Love

In November 1971, EWF's second album, titled The Need of Love, was issued. The LP got to No. 35 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.[26][27] Bruce Lindsay of Jazz Journal called The Need of Love "a worthwhile album".[28] Al Rudis of The Chicago Sun Times wrote the LP "works beautifully and while the elements of Earth, Wind & Fire aren't new, this mixture of them is a unique sound".[29]

A single from the album called "I Think About Lovin' You" reached No. 44 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[30]

The band became popular on college campuses, although some members started to become restless and the band eventually split. With only Verdine left, Maurice decided to re-form the group.[10]

During 1972, Maurice added vocalist Helena Davis, Ronnie Laws on the flute and saxophone, rhythm guitarist Roland Bautista, keyboardist Larry Dunn, vocalist Philip Bailey and percussionist Ralph Johnson. Davis was soon replaced by Jessica Cleaves, a former member of the R&B group The Friends of Distinction.[10][31]

The band successfully auditioned for managers Bob Cavallo and Joe Ruffalo. Cavallo's management of John Sebastian led to a series of gigs as his opening act. A performance at New York's Rockefeller Center introduced EWF to Clive Davis, then-President of Columbia Records. Davis was impressed and bought their contract from Warner Bros. Wissert went along with the band.[10][18][32]

Last Days and Time

Their debut album on CBS/Columbia Records, Last Days and Time, was issued in October 1972. The album got to No. 15 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 9 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart.[33][34][35] Paul Sexton of Record Mirror proclaimed "Musical historians and EWF fans alike will welcome" Last Days and Time.[36] Ovid Goode Jr. of The Los Angeles Daily News declared that the LP is full of "moving tunes" that "sprouts forth with a fresh sound which sets it apart from many of the ho-hum aggregations around today".[37]

A single called "Mom" got to No. 39 on the Cashbox Top R&B Singles chart.[38]

Soon thereafter, Roland Bautista and Ronnie Laws left. Denver native Philip Bailey recommended his former East High School classmate, saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk as a replacement for Laws. Woolfolk had been busy in New York studying sax with sax maestro Joe Henderson and was due to start a career in banking at the time. To fill the void created by Bautista's departure, rhythm guitarists Al McKay and Johnny Graham were added. Graham previously played with New Birth, while McKay was a former member of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue and The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band.[10]

Head to the Sky

EWF's fourth studio album, Head to the Sky, was released in May 1973. The album rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 27 on the Billboard 200 chart.[39][40][41] Head to the Sky was certified US Platinum by the RIAA.[42]

Vince Aletti of Rolling Stone declared that EWF "sound like a cosmic choir and generate a Sly Stone effect" on an album that's "certainly beyond all expectations".[43] Variety also described the record as "a movin' new package."[44]

A single off the LP titled "Evil" got to No. 19 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs and No. 25 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs charts respectively.[45][46] Another single called "Keep Your Head to the Sky" rose to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[47] Jessica Cleaves left after the album release.[10]

Open Our Eyes

The band's follow-up album was co-produced by Maurice and Wissert. This LP was recorded at Colorado's Caribou Ranch Studio and Open Our Eyes was released in March 1974.[48] Ken Emerson of Rolling Stone called Open Our Eyes "a pleasant miscellany of Africana, Latin rhythms, well-mannered funk, smooth jazz, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder and the Fifth Dimension". The Village Voice's Robert Christgau described the album as a complete "tour de force".[49][50] The album rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart.[51][52] Open Our Eyes was certified US Platinum.[53]

A single from the LP called "Mighty Mighty" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[54][55] "Kalimba Story" rose to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[56] "Devotion" got to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

After Open Our Eyes was issued, Maurice's younger brother, Fred White, joined the band. He had previously played in Chicago clubs as a drummer with Donny Hathaway and Little Feat.[31]

On April 6, 1974, EWF performed at the California Jam, a West Coast rock festival that attracted an audience of 200,000. The concert was televised in the US on May 10, 1974, by ABC.[57]

Another Time

In September 1974, a compilation double album titled Another Time with all the songs from EWF's first two studio albums was released by Warner Bros. The album got to No. 29 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.[58][59]

The band collaborated with Ramsey Lewis on his album Sun Goddess, which was produced by Maurice and issued in late 1974 by Columbia. The album got to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart.[60][61][62] The LP's title track rose to No. 20 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[63]Sun Goddess was certified US Gold.[64]

1975–1980: Ornate sound

That's the Way of the World

During 1975, EWF was approached by Sig Shore, producer of the motion picture Super Fly, to record the soundtrack to a new film titled That's the Way of the World. With a screenplay from Robert Lipsyte, the film was produced and directed by Shore. The film starred Harvey Keitel, Ed Nelson, EWF as "The Group" and Maurice as Early, "The Group"'s leader. Keitel played the role of a record producer who hears "The Group" performing and is wowed by their act.[31][65]

When the band saw the film they were convinced that it would become a box office bomb, which it eventually was.[18] They therefore released the film's soundtrack before the film's premiere. The LP was produced by White and Charles Stepney and recorded at the Caribou Ranch Studio. Stepney had previously worked with artists such as the Dells, Terry Callier and Minnie Riperton and the Rotary Connection, of which Riperton was a member. Stepney's writing and production style included a more ornate, orchestral flourish, which influenced the soundtrack album.[66]

That's the Way of the World was eventually issued in March 1975 by Columbia. The album rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top Soul Albums charts.[67][68][69] Stephen Curwood of The Boston Globe called the LP "a sound you shouldn't miss." Daryl Easlea of the BBC described That's the Way of the World as a "soul masterpiece." The album was certified US triple platinum.[70][71][72]

From the LP came the single "Shining Star", which rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts. This made EWF the first black act to top both the Billboard album and singles charts. The song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[11][67][71][73][74] The album's second single was title track "That's the Way of the World". It reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 12 on the Hot 100 chart.[75][76]

With the album's success the band was able to hire their own horn section, dubbed the Phenix Horns. They were composed of saxophonist Don Myrick, trombonist Louis Satterfield, and trumpeters Rahmlee Davis and Michael Harris. Myrick and Satterfield had both previously worked with White during his days as a session drummer at Chess Records.[77]

Gratitude

After their first European tour, EWF returned to the studio in June 1975. The band eventually came away with an album of mostly live concert material together with some new tracks. As a double LP Gratitude was issued in November 1975.[78] It rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts respectively.[79][80] The album was certified US triple platinum.[81]

With the LP came "Sing a Song", which rose to numbers 1 and 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts, respectively.[82][83] "Can't Hide Love" got to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[84] "Can't Hide Love" was Grammy nominated for Best Arrangement For Voices. The album's title track was also nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[11]

During 1975, White established a production company called Kalimba Productions. He signed artists such as his former bandleader Ramsey Lewis; singer Deniece Williams, who had once been a member of Stevie Wonder's "Wonderlove" backup group; and girl group the Emotions. Maurice loaned the band's signature Phenix Horns and most of the other band members and put these and others Kalimba artists on tour with EWF.[10]

While co-producing and arranging EWF's follow-up LP, Williams's debut album, This Is Niecy, Ramsey Lewis's Salongo, and the Emotions' Flowers, their first album on Columbia Records, Charles Stepney died of a heart attack on May 17, 1976, in Chicago at the age of 45.

Spirit

With Stepney's death, White went on to produce the band's new LP, Spirit, which was issued in October 1976. The album's title paid tribute to Stepney.[85][86] The LP rose to No. 2 on both the Billboard Top Pop Albums and Top Soul Albums charts.[87][88] Craig Werner of Vibe called Spirit "one of the group's defining moments" and "gospel soul for the ages."[89]John Rockwell of The New York Times declared "what is most interesting about Maurice White and his musicians..is their refusal to be locked into any stylistic format."[90] Spirit was certified US double platinum.[91]

"Getaway" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[92] The song also rose to No. 12 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Dance Club Play charts.[93][94] "Saturday Nite" reached numbers 4 and 21 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts, respectively.[95][96] "Saturday Nite" rose to No. 12 on both the Billboard Dance Club Songs and UK Pop Singles charts, respectively.[97][98] "Earth, Wind and Fire" was Grammy nominated for Best Instrumental Composition.[99]

During this period, EWF concerts became loaded with pyrotechnics, magic, laser lights, flying pyramids, levitating guitarists and elaborate production tricks that included the entire group ascending in a pyramid and a disappearing act. Stage magician Doug Henning appeared on many of their tours with his assistant and eventual successor, David Copperfield. George Faison began choreographing the shows.[10][100]

All'n All

In November 1977, EWF released All 'n All, their eighth studio album.[101] It was inspired by Maurice's month-long trip through Argentina and Brazil. The album rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.[102][103] John Rockwell of The New York Times declared "All 'n All shows Maurice White and his cohorts pushing their music ever more in a febrile jazz‐rock direction."[104] Monroe Anderson of the Chicago Tribune called the album as a "rare blend of poetry, passion and artistic progression."[105]

All 'n All won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus.[11] The album was certified US triple platinum.[106]

"Serpentine Fire" rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.[107][108] "Fantasy" reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart.[98][109] "Fantasy" was Grammy-nominated for Best R&B Song.[99] "Runnin" won a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental.[11]

In April 1978, the band featured on Natalie Cole's special aired on CBS where they performed a medley.[110][111]

EWF also appeared in the July 1978 feature film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band where they performed a cover of the Beatles' "Got to Get You into My Life". The song was eventually added to the film's soundtrack. However, the film was a commercial failure. EWF's rendition of "Got to Get You into My Life" was the biggest hit from the soundtrack, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard R&B songs chart and No. 9 on the Billboard Pop singles chart.[10][112][113][114] The song was Grammy-nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus. It went on to win a Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).[11][99] The film's soundtrack was certified US platinum.[115]

The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1

In 1978, White established a vanity label of CBS titled The American Record Company (ARC), and alongside sound engineer George Massenburg, a new recording studio called The Complex in West Los Angeles.[10] In November 1978, EWF issued a compilation album on the new vanity label entitled The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1.[116] It rose to No. 3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart.[117][118] The album was certified quintuple platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA.[119]

"September" rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.[120][121] "September" also reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.[98]

In January 1979, the band performed "September" and "That's the Way of the World" at the Music for UNICEF Concert. The concert was broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly. Other artists who performed at the event were ABBA, Andy Gibb, the Bee Gees, Olivia Newton-John, Donna Summer and Rod Stewart. The concert was Emmy-nominated in the category of Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Class.[122][123][124]

I Am

During June 1979, EWF issued their ninth studio album, I Am. The LP rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.[125][126] I Am was certified US double platinum.[127]

 
Earth, Wind, and Fire's Maurice White and Philip Bailey performing in 1979 at the Ahoy Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times proclaimed that the album was "freshly innovative for EWF."[128] Eric Sieger of The Baltimore Sun described I Am as being "faultlessly produced."[129]

"Boogie Wonderland", featuring the Emotions, got to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.[130][131] The song was also Grammy nominated in the categories of Best Disco Recording and Best R&B Instrumental Performance.[11]

"After the Love Has Gone" reached No. 2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Songs charts.[132][133] The song made No. 3 on both the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs and UK Pop Singles charts.[98][134] The ballad was Grammy-nominated in the category of Record of the Year. "After the Love Has Gone" won a Grammy for the Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.[11]

Faces

During October 1980, EWF issued a double album titled Faces. This LP was in the emerging post-disco style and was partly recorded on the Caribbean island of Montserrat.[135][136] The album rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 10 on both the Billboard 200 and UK Albums charts.[98][137][138] Faces was certified US gold.[139]

In a 2007 interview, when asked which EWF album was his favorite, Maurice White replied: "Probably Faces because we were really in tune...and it gave us the opportunity to explore new areas."[140] Soon after its release, rhythm guitarist Al McKay left the band.[10]

Dennis Hunt of the Los Angeles Times declared "Faces is the R&B album of the year."[135] Chuck Pratt of the Chicago Sun Times exclaimed "this fine funk soul group puts its best face forward on this ambitious and generous double pocket set of intricately produced, high gloss funk."[141]

A song off the LP titled "Let Me Talk" reached No. 8 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and No. 29 on the UK Singles Chart.[98][142] Another single called "You" got to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.[143][144] "And Love Goes On" rose to No. 15 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart.[145]

1981–1996: Electric sound

Raise!

White decided that, given the changing musical landscape, the band needed to incorporate into their work more of the electronic sound which was popular at the time. As a result, EWF's eleventh album, Raise!, was influenced by this new electronic sound and released in the Autumn of 1981. With this album rhythm guitarist Roland Bautista returned to EWF. Bautista went on to give the band's sound a bit of a hard rock feel with his playing.[10] Raise! rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.[146][147] Raise was certified US Platinum.[148]

Ken Tucker of Rolling Stone described Raise! as a reflection of "street-gritty black pop".[149] J.D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun noted that the album puts "Earth, Wind & Fire back on the rock and roll road".[150]

"Let's Groove" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[151][152] This song was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[11]

"I've Had Enough", got to No. 29 on the UK Pop Singles chart.[98] "Wanna Be With You" also rose to No. 15 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.[153] "Wanna Be With You" won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[11] On October 30, 1981, EWF appeared at American Bandstand's 30th Anniversary Special, where they performed "Let's Groove".[154]

In 1981, the Phenix Horns also began collaborations with Phil Collins and his band Genesis.[155]

Powerlight

During February 1983, EWF issued a studio album titled Powerlight. The album rose to No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart.[156][157] Powerlight was certified US Gold.[158]

Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times wrote Powerlight "does show why EWF is one of the masters of studio pop."[159][160] Hugh Wyatt of the New York Daily News found "Earth, Wind & Fire gives new meaning to the word classy, and I like it".[161]

"Fall in Love with Me" rose to No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[162][163] "Fall in Love with Me" was Grammy-nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[11] "Side by Side" got to No. 15 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[164]

EWF went on to appear on the soundtrack of the April 1983 animated feature film Rock & Rule with the song "Dance, Dance, Dance". Artists such as Debbie Harry of Blondie, Lou Reed and Cheap Trick also featured on the soundtrack. LA Weekly noted the "standout track" is "Earth, Wind & Fire's funky club jam Dance, Dance, Dance".[165] Rock & Rule was the first feature film of Nelvana Studios. Spin called Rock & Rule "the greatest oddball scifi musical ever committed to animation cels". Keith Breese of Contact Music described the movie as "a masterpiece of outré animation and wildly ambitious vision and remains a triumph in animated feature film". Rock & Rule has also gone on to become a cult classic.[165][166][167]

Electric Universe

During November 1983, EWF issued their thirteenth studio album, titled Electric Universe. With the album came a unique fully new wave and synth pop sound for EWF.[168] The album got to No. 8 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 40 on the Billboard 200 chart.[169][170]

Gary Graff of The Detroit Free Press exclaimed "Plug in the planets! This is the best disc this outfit has put together in quite some time."[171] Matty Karas of Rolling Stone described Electric Universe as full of "sensuous, and at times, rock oriented dance material."[172][173]

"Magnetic" rose to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and No. 36 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.[174][175] "Touch" got to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[176]

Hiatus

Maurice decided the band needed a break, so he put EWF on hiatus in 1984.

During the hiatus, Maurice produced Barbra Streisand's 1984 album Emotion.[177] He produced Ramsey Lewis on his 1985 album Fantasy. The album reached No. 13 on the Cashbox Jazz Albums chart.[178][179] White released a self-titled solo album in 1985 on Columbia. The album rose to number 12 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. A cover of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" got to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 11 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.[180][181][182][183] Another album cut, "I Need You", rose to No. 20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.[184][185] White co-produced Pieces of a Dream's 1986 LP Joyride. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums chart and No. 18 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.[186][187][188] He then produced Neil Diamond's 1986 album Headed for the Future.[189][190] White later guested on guitarist Lee Ritenour's 1986 Grammy-nominated album Earth Run and produced Ramsey Lewis'1987 album Keys to the City.[191][192][193][194]

Philip Bailey issued his second solo album, Chinese Wall, in 1984 on Columbia. He recorded Grammy nominated Gospel LP entitled The Wonders of His Love in 1984 and appeared upon Kenny Loggins' 1985 album Vox Humana.[195][196] In 1986 Bailey released his third studio album being Inside Out and his second Gospel LP, Triumph, which won a Grammy.[197] Bailey later featured on Stevie Wonder's 1986 album In Square Circle and Ray Parker Jr.'s 1987 LP After Dark.[195][198]

Ralph Johnson produced The Temptations on their 1984 album Truly for You. Verdine White promoted go-go bands such as Trouble Funk and E.U.[10] The compilation album The Collection was released in 1986. It stayed at No. 5 on the UK singles charts for two weeks, and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry.[98][199]

Touch the World

During 1987, Maurice went about reconvening the band. Verdine, Johnson, Bailey and Woolfolk returned. New members guitarist/vocalist Sheldon Reynolds, keyboardist Vance Taylor and drummer Sonny Emory filled out the lineup. A new horn section dubbed Earth, Wind & Fire Horns was created, made up of Gary Bias on the saxophone, Raymond Lee Brown on the trumpet, and Reggie Young on flugelhorn and trombone.[10]

With this came the studio album Touch the World which was issued in November 1987.[200] Touch the World rose to No. 3 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 33 on the Billboard 200 chart.[201][202] Touch the World was also certified US Gold.[203]

David Emerson of The Boston Globe called Touch the World "one of their toughest and most convincing records ever".[204] Pamela Bloom of High Fidelity proclaimed "the message, as always, is stop, step back, and turn up your light".[205] Touch the World was also nominated for a Soul Train Award in the category of Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year.[citation needed]

Skylark penned "System of Survival" for the album. It became a hit single, going to number one on both the Billboard R&B and Dance charts. "System of Survival" was nominated for a Soul Train Award in the category of Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo.[200][206][207] "Thinking of You" got to No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[200][208][209]

The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 2

During November 1988, EWF issued a compilation album titled The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 2. The album was certified US Gold.[210][211] "Turn on (The Beat Box)" reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[212] EWF went on to be nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Best Vocal Group.[213]

Heritage

During February 1990, EWF issued their fifteenth studio album, entitled Heritage. The album rose to No. 19 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 18 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart.[214][215][216]

People magazine described Heritage as an album "with a full dose of energy and creativity".[217] Don Palmer of Spin also proclaimed "EWF's newest kicks with some genuine enthusiasm".[218]

The title track, featuring The Boys, got to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[219] "For the Love of You", featuring MC Hammer, rose to No. 19 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[220]

The band appeared on the compilation album Music Speaks Louder Than Words released in 1990 on Epic Records. Artists such as Phoebe Snow, Roberta Flack, Cyndi Lauper, Patti LaBelle, Animotion, Atlantic Starr, and Anne Murray featured on the album. Songs were composed by both American and Soviet musicians and songwriters. A sum of the proceeds went to the AFS Intercultural Exchanges programme, an international body based in 70 countries which places exchange students with host families.[221][222]

The Eternal Dance

During 1992, EWF issued a compilation album called The Eternal Dance. The LP was the band's first ever boxset. The Boston Globe placed The Eternal Dance on their lists of the top ten recordings of both 1992 and 1993.[223][224] On July 30, 1993, former Phenix Horns saxophonist Don Myrick was fatally shot by a Santa Monica Police Department officer.[225]

Millenium

During September 1993, came the release of the band's 16th studio album, Millennium issued on Warner Bros. Records. Artists such as Ronnie Laws and Prince appeared on the LP. The album also rose to No. 8 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 39 on the Billboard 200 chart.[226][227][228] Millennium was certified Gold in Japan by the RIAJ.[229]

Tom Sinclair of Vibe proclaimed that EWF "demonstrate they still have the knack for constructing mellifluous R&B on the visionary/romantic tip."[230] Renee Graham of The Boston Globe noted that Millennium "returns the band to its funk/r&b roots" with a "tasty bit of Minneapolis funk".[231] Millennium was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award in the category of Best R&B/Soul Album - Group, Band or Duo.[232]

"Sunday Morning" got to No. 10 on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, No. 20 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, No. 35 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart, and No. 33 on the RPM Top Canadian Singles chart. It was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.[11][233][234][235][236] "Spend the Night" rose to No. 36 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[237]

On October 13 of that year, former lead vocalist Wade Flemons died from cancer in Battle Creek, Michigan.[238]

 
Earth, Wind & Fire star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

In November 1993, EWF performed at the American Music Awards 20th anniversary special.[239] During 1994, EWF was inducted into the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame.[240] On September 14 of the following year, the band received another tribute in the form of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[5][241][242]

Maurice, Sonny Emory, Sheldon Reynolds, Bailey, Johnson, Woolfolk and Verdine all attended the inauguration ceremony.[241][242]

1996–present: Neo period

During 1996, Maurice launched a new label titled Kalimba Records based in Santa Monica, California. At the label also came a recording studio known as Magnet Vision.[243][244]

In the Name of Love

EWF's follow-up studio album, In the Name of Love, was released in 1997 on Rhino Records. The album went on to be noted as one with a digitised neo soul sound and style. Phyl Garland of Stereo Review wrote "with this set of skillfully shaped songs, White has positioned Earth, Wind & Fire to move into the next century".[245] Dan Glaister of The Guardian described In the Name of Love as "a scorching album".[246] The LP reached No. 19 on the UK R&B Albums chart.[247] From the album, a track titled "When Love Goes Wrong" got to No. 33 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. Another song called "Change Your Mind" was issued as a single in 2006 by Kalimba.[248] "Change Your Mind" rose to No. 26 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[249][250]

During the previous year, Maurice stopped regularly touring, but still appeared on stage occasionally. He explained that he wanted rest from the rigors of the road. Bailey took the role of on stage leader. Maurice maintained executive control.[251]

The band appeared on Wu Tang Clan offshoot Sunz of Man's 1998 debut album The Last Shall Be First.[252][253][254] EWF gave an encore performance at the 1997 and 1998 Montreux Jazz Festivals.[255][256]

During Spring 1999, EWF appeared on the soundtrack of the animated sitcom The PJs.[257][258]

The Ultimate Collection

The band issued a compilation album titled The Ultimate Collection on Columbia.[259] The album reached No. 34 upon the UK Pop Albums Chart.[98] A remix by UK dance duo Phats and Small called "September '99" got to No. 1 on the Canadian Dance Songs chart and No. 25 on the UK Pop Singles chart.[98][260][261]

In 1999, the group performed on the A&E Network show Live by Request.[262] Website Startalk.org was set up in 1999 in Maurice's honor. Maurice later spoke of a mild affliction with Parkinson's disease. Artists such as Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Isaac Hayes, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine posted messages on the site for White.[263] Maurice, however, had the disease under control, so much so that he occasionally made appearances at EWF performances, and continued to write, record, produce and develop new recordings.

On March 6, 2000, EWF was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by hip hop artist Lil' Kim to a standing ovation during the 15th annual ceremony held at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Maurice, Bailey, Verdine, and Johnson, as well as former EWF members Al McKay, Larry Dunn, Woolfolk, Fred White and Johnny Graham attended the ceremony. At the gala they performed "Shining Star" and "That's the Way of the World".[4][264]

EWF was a specially-invited music guest at the June 20, 2000 White House state dinner hosted by President Bill Clinton on the South Lawn of the White House, in honor of His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, and Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem.[265][266] So impressed was the king by the band's performance that he made a personal request for EWF to perform in Morocco for his 37th birthday celebration on August 21, 2000.[267] EWF collaborated with Wyclef Jean on his second studio album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book, which was issued in August 2000.[268][269][270]

In 2001, a biographical documentary of the band titled Shining Stars: The Official Story Of Earth, Wind & Fire was released, directed by Kathryn Arnold. Following the September 11 attacks of that year, the band members donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross at a September 13 show at Virginia's Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater, the band's first concert following those events.[271] February 24, 2002, saw EWF performing at the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City, Utah.[272][273] On June 17, 2002, EWF was bestowed with the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The award was presented by ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman, Stevie Wonder, and Jimmy Jam.[274] On June 25, 2002, EWF was bestowed with a BET Lifetime Achievement Award.[275]

The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire

Within July 2002 a compilation album titled The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire was issued by Columbia.[276] The album was certified US Gold. A sampler that featured remixes of "Can't Hide Love" and "Let's Groove" came off the LP. The remix sampler got to No. 4 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.[277][278] A live album of the band's 1980 performance in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, titled Live In Rio, was released in November 2002.

The Promise

During May 2003, EWF issued The Promise.[279] The album peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart.[280][281] People magazine described The Promise as a "musically rich 17-track set (including five trademark instrumental interludes) that blows away most of today's R&B."[282] Steve Jones of USA Today wrote "with horn-kissed ballads and infectious jazz funk grooves, the band seems to have regained its spark".[283] Artists such as Angie Stone, The Emotions and Gerald Albright featured on the album.[279] "All in the Way", featuring The Emotions, got to No. 13 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 25 Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.[284][285] "Hold Me" reached No. 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. "Hold Me" was Grammy-nominated in the category of Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.[11][286]

On July 7, 2003, the band was inducted into Hollywood's Rockwalk. In September 2003, EWF were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.[6][12][287] On February 8, 2004, EWF performed in a tribute to funk at the 46th annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. Other artists performing at this tribute were Parliament Funkadelic, OutKast, and Robert Randolph and the Family Band. EWF sang "Shining Star" and then at Outkast's request crooned "The Way You Move" with them. Robert Randolph and the Family Band performed their single "I Need More Love" and then all of the bands teamed to sing Parliament Funkadelic's classic "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)".[288][289] EWF also covered Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" on the May 2004 tribute album Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix.[290]

On June 8, 2004, EWF were bestowed with the NARAS Signature Governors Award at Los Angeles's Beverly Hills Hotel.[291] On September 27, 2004, former Phenix Horns trombonist Louis Satterfield died, aged 67.[292]

On December 11, 2004, EWF was honored at the first annual Grammy Jam held at Los Angeles's Wiltern Theater. At the Grammy Jam artists such as Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, India Arie, George Benson, Sheila E., Kanye West, George Duke, Usher and Jill Scott paid tribute to the band via their performances.[293][294] EWF performed on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on December 31, 2004.[295] The February 6, 2005, Super Bowl XXXIX pregame show in Jacksonville, Florida saw the band teaming with The Black Eyed Peas to sing "Where Is the Love?" and "Shining Star".[296][297]

In 2004, EWF and Chicago embarked upon a joint national tour. It yielded a DVD of a concert that took place at Los Angeles' Greek Theater titled Chicago & Earth, Wind & Fire – Live at the Greek Theatre. This DVD was released on June 28, 2005, and was certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA. Chicago and EWF later collaborated for a new recording of Chicago's ballad "If You Leave Me Now," that was included on Chicago's 2005 compilation album Love Songs. At the 57th Primetime Emmy Awards held on September 18, 2005, at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium, the band performed as the opening act with The Black Eyed Peas.[298]

Illumination

During September 2005, Illumination, EWF's 19th studio album, was issued on Sanctuary Records. On this album EWF collaborated with artists such as will.i.am, Kelly Rowland, Outkast's Big Boi, Floetry and Brian McKnight. Illumination reached No. 8 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 32 on the Billboard 200 chart.[299][300]

Raymond Fiore of Entertainment Weekly described the LP as a mix of "modern beats and retro, horn-lined soul".[301] Steve Jones of USA Today noted that on the album EWF are as "vibrant as ever".[302] Illumination received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album and a Soul Train Music Award nomination in the category of Best R&B-Soul Album. EWF received a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Duo or Group.[11][303][304]

A song from the album, called "Pure Gold", reached No. 23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.[305] EWF also covered Outkast's "The Way You Move" featuring saxophonist Kenny G. The single got to No. 12 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.[306][307] Another single titled "Show Me The Way", featuring neo soul singer Raphael Saadiq got to No. 16 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[308] Show Me The Way was also Grammy nominated in the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[11]

In 2006, Maurice worked with Maurice Hines, brother of famed entertainer Gregory Hines, to release the Broadway play Hot Feet. This was a jukebox musical with the theme of the music of Earth, Wind & Fire. Maurice co-wrote with Allee Willis several new songs for the play.[309] On February 11, 2007, EWF performed "Runaway Love" alongside Mary J. Blige and Ludacris at the 49th Grammy Awards held at Los Angeles's Staples Center.[310]

 
Earth, Wind & Fire performing at the opening ceremony of the 2008 U.S. Open August 25, 2008

Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire, an album featuring cover versions of EWF's material, was released in March 2007 on Stax Records. Executively produced by Maurice, the LP featured artists such as Chaka Khan, Kirk Franklin, Lalah Hathaway, Mint Condition, Dwele, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Angie Stone. The album rose to no. 28 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[311][312] Kirk Franklin's cover of September reached No. 17 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 26 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart.[313][314] Dwele's rendition of "That's the Way of the World" and Meshell Ndegeocello's cover of "Fantasy" were each nominated for Grammies in the category of Best Urban/Alternative Performance.[315][316]

On April 25, 2007, EWF performed as the opening act at a special edition of American Idol entitled "Idol Gives Back". At the gala the band performed a medley of "Boogie Wonderland", "Shining Star" and "September".[317] At the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, on December 11, 2007, EWF performed "Fantasy" and "September". The concert was broadcast to over 100 countries. Artists such as Melissa Etheridge, Alicia Keys, Annie Lennox, and Kylie Minogue also performed at the concert.[318]

During February 2008, EWF performed on the opening night of one of the oldest and largest musical festivals in Latin America, Chile's Viña del Mar Festival. The audience at the gala was so impressed by EWF's performance that the band was bestowed with the Gaviota de Plata (The Silver Seagull), the festival's highest performance award. EWF's song "In the Stone" has been used for several years as the introductory theme for festival broadcasts.[319][320][321][322]

 
Earth, Wind & Fire tribute, Munich Olympic Walk of Stars on April 9, 2011

On March 10, 2008, the band was inducted into the Munich Olympic Walk Of Stars.[323] During May 2008 EWF performed at the Apollo Theater's fourth annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony.[324] Maurice and Verdine, Johnson, and Bailey each received an honorary degree from the Arts and Media College at Columbia College Chicago's 2008 commencement exercises. During the ceremony Verdine and Johnson both gave acceptance speeches before the four gave an impromptu performance of "Shining Star".[325][326] EWF performed at the opening ceremony of the 2008 US Open, which was hosted by Forest Whitaker and served to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of tennis' Open Era with a parade of more than 25 former US Open singles champions.[327]

EWF performed at the White House on February 22, 2009, for the Governors' Dinner; they were the first musical artists to perform there after Barack Obama took office.[328] During April 2009 former EWF keyboardist Robert Brookins died from a heart attack, at the age of 46.[329] On April 26, 2009, EWF appeared at the 39th New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.[330] The band aligned with Chicago once again for a joint tour.[331] In September 2009 EWF were bestowed with the Daniel L. Stephenson award for lifetime achievement in music at the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival.[332]

During February 2010 the band participated in the recording of the "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" single.[333][334] Within that year Maurice, Verdine, and Bailey together with former EWF members McKay and Dunn were inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.[335][336]

In November 2011, the band received the Legend Award at the Soul Train Awards at Atlanta, Georgia's Fox Theatre.[337] In 2012, EWF were bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 20th Annual Trumpet Awards, held at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta.[338] On February 29, 2012, former EWF rhythm guitarist Roland Bautista died, at the age of 60.[339]

EWF, along with former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton and Charlie Wilson, guested on the LL Cool J track "Something About You". The song appeared on his 2013 album Authentic.[340]

Now, Then & Forever

Now, Then & Forever, the group's first album in eight years, was released on September 10, 2013, by Legacy Recordings/Sony Music.[341] Artists such as Siedah Garrett, former bandmate Larry Dunn and Terrence Blanchard made guest appearances upon the LP. The album was also the first without musical input from founder Maurice White, although he contributed to the it's liner notes.[342] The album reached No. 25 on the UK Pop Album Charts, No. 11 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 6 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[343][344][345] Now, Then & Forever was also certified Silver in the UK by the BPI.[346]

Emerys Baird of Blues & Soul gave a nine out of ten rating, calling the album a "glorious return to form. EW&F have produced an incredibly well balanced body of work, a set full of contrast and colour, sublime stuff."[347] Elias Leight of Popmatters also wrote "Now, Then & Forever has all the old colors and grooves, an impeccable rhythm section, prominent guitars, and indomitable horns that trace and re-trace motifs, dancing rings around everything."[348]

A song from the album called "Guiding Lights" was released as a single and rose to No. 16 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[349][350] Another single, "My Promise", reached No. 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.[351][352]

Singles Never and Why?, from The Promise, were later issued in 2014.[353] "Never" rose to No. 17 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart. "Why?" got to No. 19 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart.[279][354][355]

Holiday

On January 13, 2014, former percussionist Beloyd Taylor, who co-wrote the band's 1976 hit "Getaway", died.[356] During February 2014 EWF performed alongside Pharrell, Janelle Monae at the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.[357] On May 2, former lead vocalist Jessica Cleaves died at age 65.[358]

On September 13, 2014, EWF performed at Proms in the Park at Hyde Park with the BBC Concert Orchestra.[359] On October 21, 2014, EWF released their first ever holiday album, titled Holiday.[360] That album rose to No. 26 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and No. 8 on the Billboard Holiday Albums chart.[361][362] On December 8, 2014, EWF performed at the Kennedy Center Honors, honoring Al Green.[363] On December 14, 2014, the band performed at the Christmas in Washington event.[364]

Maurice White died on February 4, 2016. He was survived by his wife, his two sons, daughter and his brothers Verdine and Fred.[365] Along with EWF, Maurice was posthumously bestowed with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Grammy Awards ceremony on February 15, 2016. At the ceremony Stevie Wonder and Pentatonix performed a rendition of "That's the Way of the World" in tribute to White.[366] On December 4 of that year, the band were also honoured with a Ebony Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ebony Power 100 Gala held in the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.[367]

On June 6, 2017, EWF performed in downtown Nashville, Tennessee at the CMT concert series program, CMT Crossroads, with artists such as Dan + Shay, Martina McBride, Rascall Flatts, Antebellum, Darius Rucker and Sara Evans. A performance of "September" with Antebellum on the show was nominated for a CMT Music Award in the category of Performance of the Year.[368][369] During Summer 2017 the band went on a North American tour entitled, 2054-The Tour, with Chic.[370]

EWF went on to perform on the forum float at the 2018 Rose Parade held in Pasadena, California.[371] On May 2, 2018, the band started a Las Vegas Residency at the Venetian Theatre, Las Vegas, Nevada.[372]

On September 10, 2019, The Los Angeles City Council declared that September 21 would be dedicated Earth, Wind & Fire Day.[373] On November 22 of that year the band received the Portrait of a Nation Prize at the Smithsonian's American Portrait Gala.[374] EWF were one of the inductees at the 42nd Kennedy Center Honors that took place on December 7, 2019.[14] EWF became the first Black group to be inducted into Kennedy Honors.[375] The band later guested on Meghan Trainor's October 2020 "Christmas Album A Very Trainor Christmas".[376]

During September 2021, EWF reached the top 10 of Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay chart for the first time in 28 years with their new single “You Want My Love,” featuring Lucky Daye.[377] On 24 April 2022, former saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk passed away at the age of 71.[378] The band later embarked on a joint summer tour with Carlos Santana and made a guest appearance on the Isley Brothers' September 2022 album Make Me Say It Again, Girl.[379][380]

On January 1, 2023, it was announced that former drummer Fred White had died at 67.[381]

In March 2023, Earth, Wind & Fire IP, LLC filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement and trademark dilution against Substantial Music Group and Stellar Communications which had launched an Earth, Wind & Fire Legacy Reunion group.[382]

Earth, Wind & Fire will tour in 2023 as co-headliners with Lionel Richie.[382]

Legacy

Earth, Wind & Fire's songs have been covered by artists including Whitney Houston, D'Angelo, Donny Osmond, Patti LaBelle, Taylor Swift, Olly Murs, Kirk Franklin,[383][384][385] Wynonna Judd, Maxine Nightingale, Yolanda Adams, Ledisi, Miki Howard, Chicago, Chaka Khan and 112.[384][385]

EWF has been sampled by artists such as Drake, A Tribe Called Quest, Missy Elliott, Public Enemy, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, the Fugees, LL Cool J, Kid Ink, Salt-N-Pepa and Basement Jaxx. The band has also been sampled by the likes of Björk, Diddy, The Roots, Will Smith, Nas, TLC, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Big Sean, Tupac Shakur and MC Lyte.[383][384][385]

EWF has influenced artists such as Beyoncé,[386] Usher,[387] will.i.am,[388] Janelle Monáe,[389] Mary J. Blige,[390] Prince,[391] Pharrell Williams,[392] India Arie,[251] Jon Secada,[393] and Wyclef Jean.[251] They have also been influential to artists like Angie Stone,[394] Patrice Rushen,[395] The All-American Rejects,[396] Nelly[397] Teena Marie,[398] Musiq Soulchild,[251] Solange Knowles,[399] Babyface,[400] Taylor Dayne,[401] Will Gregory of Goldfrapp,[402] Outkast,[403] and Gloria Estefan.[404]

Artists such as Jamiroquai,[405] Melissa Etheridge,[406] Pitbull,[407] Lenny Kravitz,[408]Vanessa Williams,[409] Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers,[410] Justice[411] Omarion,[412] Rob Bourdon of Linkin Park,[413] Jill Scott,[251] and Justin Timberlake have also been influenced by EWF.[414] The band has influenced artists such as Bonnie Raitt,[415] Erykah Badu,[416] Jamie Foxx,[417] Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy,[418] Lalah Hathaway,[419] Amy Winehouse,[420] and Meghan Trainor.[421]

Miles Davis described EWF as his "all time favorite band", saying, "they have everything (horns, electric guitar, singers and more) in one band".[422] Quincy Jones proclaimed himself to be the "biggest fan of Earth, Wind & Fire since day one."[423] Alicia Keys proclaimed EWF as being "the best band ever".[424] Dionne Warwick named Earth, Wind & Fire her favorite group of all time.[425] Mark Ronson proclaimed that he loves "anything by Earth, Wind & Fire".[426]

In the movie Baadasssss!, the actor Khalil Kain portrayed a young Maurice White leading the early incarnation of Earth, Wind & Fire. Released at the Sundance Film Festival, the film was based on Melvin Van Peebles' struggle to film and distribute the movie Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and was directed by his son Mario Van Peebles.[427][428]

Members

Main article: List of Earth, Wind & Fire band members
  • Philip Bailey – lead vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba (1972–1984; 1987–present)
  • Verdine White – bass guitar, backing vocals (1970–1984; 1987–present)
  • Ralph Johnson – percussion, backing vocals (1972–1984; 1987–present); drums (1972–1984)

with

  • B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals (1996–present)
  • Myron McKinley – keyboards, musical director (2001–present)
  • John Paris – drums, vocals (2001–present)
  • Philip Bailey, Jr. – vocals, percussion (2008–present)
  • Morris O'Connor – lead guitar, vocals (2008–present)
  • Serg Dimitrijevic – rhythm guitar, vocals (2012–present)

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Earth, Wind, & Fire

Discography

Main article: Earth, Wind & Fire discography

Studio albums

See also

References

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March 23, 2023
earth, wind, fire, confused, with, earth, fire, elements, classical, element, 2013, cappadonna, album, eyrth, wynd, fyre, american, band, whose, music, spans, genres, jazz, soul, funk, disco, latin, afro, they, among, best, selling, bands, time, with, sales, o. Not to be confused with Earth and Fire For the elements see Classical element For the 2013 Cappadonna album see Eyrth Wynd and Fyre Earth Wind amp Fire EW amp F or EWF is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz R amp B soul funk disco pop Latin and Afro pop 2 3 They are among the best selling bands of all time with sales of over 90 million records worldwide 4 5 6 Earth Wind amp FireEarth Wind amp Fire performing in 2009Background informationAlso known asEW amp F EWFOriginChicago Illinois U S GenresR amp B soul funk disco pop dance jazz progressive soul 1 Years active1969 presentLabelsWarner Bros ARC Columbia Kalimba SanctuaryMembersPhilip Bailey Verdine White Ralph Johnson B David Whitworth Philip Bailey Jr Myron McKinley John Paris Morris O Connor Serg Dimitrijevic Earth Wind amp Fire HornsPast membersMaurice White Wade Flemons Jessica Cleaves Ronnie Laws Roland Bautista Larry Dunn Andrew Woolfolk Al McKay Fred White Sheldon Reynolds Phenix Horns Doug Carn Sonny Emory Dick Smith Vance Taylor Fred Ravel David Lautrec Greg Moore Morris Pleasure Robert Brookins Daniel de los Reyes Kimberly Brewer Kim Johnson Johnny GrahamWebsiteearthwindandfire wbr comThe band was founded in Chicago by Maurice White in 1969 growing out of the Salty Peppers 4 7 Prominent members have included Philip Bailey Verdine White Ralph Johnson Larry Dunn Al McKay Roland Bautista Robert Brookins Sonny Emory Fred Ravel Ronnie Laws Sheldon Reynolds and Andrew Woolfolk 8 The band is known for its kalimba sound dynamic horn section energetic and elaborate stage shows and the contrast between Bailey s falsetto and Maurice s baritone 9 10 The band has won 6 Grammys out of 17 nominations 11 and four American Music Awards out of 12 nominations 2 They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the Vocal Group Hall of Fame the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame and Hollywood s Rockwalk and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame The band has received an ASCAP Rhythm amp Soul Heritage Award a BET Lifetime Achievement Award a Soul Train Legend Award 2 12 a NARAS Signature Governor s Award 2 a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award 2 11 the 2012 Congressional Horizon Award 13 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2019 14 Rolling Stone has called them innovative precise yet sensual calculated yet galvanizing and declared that the band changed the sound of black pop 15 VH1 has described EWF as one of the greatest bands 9 Contents 1 History 1 1 1969 1970 Beginnings 1 2 1970 1974 Formation and early years 1 2 1 Earth Wind amp Fire 1 2 2 Sweet Sweetback s Baadassss Song 1 2 3 The Need of Love 1 2 4 Last Days and Time 1 2 5 Head to the Sky 1 2 6 Open Our Eyes 1 2 7 Another Time 1 3 1975 1980 Ornate sound 1 3 1 That s the Way of the World 1 3 2 Gratitude 1 3 3 Spirit 1 3 4 All n All 1 3 5 The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 1 1 3 6 I Am 1 3 7 Faces 1 4 1981 1996 Electric sound 1 4 1 Raise 1 4 2 Powerlight 1 4 3 Electric Universe 1 4 4 Hiatus 1 4 5 Touch the World 1 4 6 The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 2 1 4 7 Heritage 1 4 8 The Eternal Dance 1 4 9 Millenium 1 5 1996 present Neo period 1 5 1 In the Name of Love 1 5 2 The Ultimate Collection 1 5 3 The Essential Earth Wind amp Fire 1 5 4 The Promise 1 5 5 Illumination 1 5 6 Now Then amp Forever 1 5 7 Holiday 2 Legacy 3 Members 4 Awards and nominations 5 Discography 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksHistory Edit1969 1970 Beginnings Edit In 1969 Maurice White a former session drummer for Chess Records and former member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio joined two friends in Chicago Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead as a songwriting team They wrote songs and commercials in the Chicago area The three friends got a recording contract with Capitol Records Calling themselves The Salty Peppers they had a marginal hit single in the Midwest titled La La Time 10 16 The Salty Peppers second single Uh Huh Yeah did not fare as well Maurice moved from Chicago to Los Angeles He added singer Sherry Scott 17 and percussionist Yackov Ben Israel both from Chicago to the band He asked his younger brother Verdine to join and on June 6 1970 Verdine moved from Chicago to LA to become the band s bassist Maurice began shopping demo tapes featuring Donny Hathaway to various record labels and the band eventually signed to Warner Bros Records 10 1970 1974 Formation and early years Edit Maurice s astrological sign Sagittarius has a primary elemental quality of fire and seasonal qualities of earth and air according to classical triplicities Sagittarius in the northern hemisphere occurs in the autumn whose element is earth and in the southern hemisphere it is spring whose element is air Hence the omission of Water the fourth classical element Based on this he changed the band s name to Earth Wind amp Fire Maurice held further auditions in L A adding Michael Beal on guitar Chester Washington on reeds and Leslie Drayton on trumpet Maurice was a percussionist and lead vocalist Drayton served as the group s arranger Trombonist Alex Thomas completed the then ten man lineup Warner Bros designated Joe Wissert to be the band s producer 4 10 18 Earth Wind amp Fire Edit The band s self titled debut album was released in February 1971 on Warner Bros The album got to No 24 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and was certified Gold in France by the SNEP 19 20 21 Lester Bangs of Rolling Stone noted a heavy Sly influence and the smooth harmonies of The Fifth Dimension on the LP 22 Bob Talbert of the Detroit Free Press also wrote I m not sure what to call this group Afro gospel jazz blues rock Must there be a label 23 Sweet Sweetback s Baadassss Song Edit EWF went on to supply the entire soundtrack of the Melvin Van Peebles feature film Sweet Sweetback s Baadasssss Song The soundtrack composed by Van Peebles was released in April 1971 on Stax Records 24 The album reached No 13 on the Billboard Top R amp B Albums chart 25 The Need of Love Edit In November 1971 EWF s second album titled The Need of Love was issued The LP got to No 35 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart 26 27 Bruce Lindsay of Jazz Journal called The Need of Love a worthwhile album 28 Al Rudis of The Chicago Sun Times wrote the LP works beautifully and while the elements of Earth Wind amp Fire aren t new this mixture of them is a unique sound 29 A single from the album called I Think About Lovin You reached No 44 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart 30 The band became popular on college campuses although some members started to become restless and the band eventually split With only Verdine left Maurice decided to re form the group 10 During 1972 Maurice added vocalist Helena Davis Ronnie Laws on the flute and saxophone rhythm guitarist Roland Bautista keyboardist Larry Dunn vocalist Philip Bailey and percussionist Ralph Johnson Davis was soon replaced by Jessica Cleaves a former member of the R amp B group The Friends of Distinction 10 31 The band successfully auditioned for managers Bob Cavallo and Joe Ruffalo Cavallo s management of John Sebastian led to a series of gigs as his opening act A performance at New York s Rockefeller Center introduced EWF to Clive Davis then President of Columbia Records Davis was impressed and bought their contract from Warner Bros Wissert went along with the band 10 18 32 Last Days and Time Edit Their debut album on CBS Columbia Records Last Days and Time was issued in October 1972 The album got to No 15 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No 9 on the UK Blues amp Soul Top British Soul Albums chart 33 34 35 Paul Sexton of Record Mirror proclaimed Musical historians and EWF fans alike will welcome Last Days and Time 36 Ovid Goode Jr of The Los Angeles Daily News declared that the LP is full of moving tunes that sprouts forth with a fresh sound which sets it apart from many of the ho hum aggregations around today 37 A single called Mom got to No 39 on the Cashbox Top R amp B Singles chart 38 Soon thereafter Roland Bautista and Ronnie Laws left Denver native Philip Bailey recommended his former East High School classmate saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk as a replacement for Laws Woolfolk had been busy in New York studying sax with sax maestro Joe Henderson and was due to start a career in banking at the time To fill the void created by Bautista s departure rhythm guitarists Al McKay and Johnny Graham were added Graham previously played with New Birth while McKay was a former member of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue and The Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band 10 Head to the Sky Edit EWF s fourth studio album Head to the Sky was released in May 1973 The album rose to No 2 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No 27 on the Billboard 200 chart 39 40 41 Head to the Sky was certified US Platinum by the RIAA 42 Vince Aletti of Rolling Stone declared that EWF sound like a cosmic choir and generate a Sly Stone effect on an album that s certainly beyond all expectations 43 Variety also described the record as a movin new package 44 A single off the LP titled Evil got to No 19 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs and No 25 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs charts respectively 45 46 Another single called Keep Your Head to the Sky rose to No 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart 47 Jessica Cleaves left after the album release 10 Open Our Eyes Edit The band s follow up album was co produced by Maurice and Wissert This LP was recorded at Colorado s Caribou Ranch Studio and Open Our Eyes was released in March 1974 48 Ken Emerson of Rolling Stone called Open Our Eyes a pleasant miscellany of Africana Latin rhythms well mannered funk smooth jazz Sly Stone Stevie Wonder and the Fifth Dimension The Village Voice s Robert Christgau described the album as a complete tour de force 49 50 The album rose to No 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No 15 on the Billboard 200 chart 51 52 Open Our Eyes was certified US Platinum 53 A single from the LP called Mighty Mighty reached No 4 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart 54 55 Kalimba Story rose to No 6 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart 56 Devotion got to No 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart After Open Our Eyes was issued Maurice s younger brother Fred White joined the band He had previously played in Chicago clubs as a drummer with Donny Hathaway and Little Feat 31 On April 6 1974 EWF performed at the California Jam a West Coast rock festival that attracted an audience of 200 000 The concert was televised in the US on May 10 1974 by ABC 57 Another Time Edit In September 1974 a compilation double album titled Another Time with all the songs from EWF s first two studio albums was released by Warner Bros The album got to No 29 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart 58 59 The band collaborated with Ramsey Lewis on his album Sun Goddess which was produced by Maurice and issued in late 1974 by Columbia The album got to No 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No 12 on the Billboard 200 chart 60 61 62 The LP s title track rose to No 20 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart 63 Sun Goddess was certified US Gold 64 1975 1980 Ornate sound Edit That s the Way of the World Edit During 1975 EWF was approached by Sig Shore producer of the motion picture Super Fly to record the soundtrack to a new film titled That s the Way of the World With a screenplay from Robert Lipsyte the film was produced and directed by Shore The film starred Harvey Keitel Ed Nelson EWF as The Group and Maurice as Early The Group s leader Keitel played the role of a record producer who hears The Group performing and is wowed by their act 31 65 When the band saw the film they were convinced that it would become a box office bomb which it eventually was 18 They therefore released the film s soundtrack before the film s premiere The LP was produced by White and Charles Stepney and recorded at the Caribou Ranch Studio Stepney had previously worked with artists such as the Dells Terry Callier and Minnie Riperton and the Rotary Connection of which Riperton was a member Stepney s writing and production style included a more ornate orchestral flourish which influenced the soundtrack album 66 That s the Way of the World was eventually issued in March 1975 by Columbia The album rose to No 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top Soul Albums charts 67 68 69 Stephen Curwood of The Boston Globe called the LP a sound you shouldn t miss Daryl Easlea of the BBC described That s the Way of the World as a soul masterpiece The album was certified US triple platinum 70 71 72 From the LP came the single Shining Star which rose to No 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts This made EWF the first black act to top both the Billboard album and singles charts The song won a Grammy Award for Best R amp B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 11 67 71 73 74 The album s second single was title track That s the Way of the World It reached No 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No 12 on the Hot 100 chart 75 76 With the album s success the band was able to hire their own horn section dubbed the Phenix Horns They were composed of saxophonist Don Myrick trombonist Louis Satterfield and trumpeters Rahmlee Davis and Michael Harris Myrick and Satterfield had both previously worked with White during his days as a session drummer at Chess Records 77 Gratitude Edit After their first European tour EWF returned to the studio in June 1975 The band eventually came away with an album of mostly live concert material together with some new tracks As a double LP Gratitude was issued in November 1975 78 It rose to No 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts respectively 79 80 The album was certified US triple platinum 81 With the LP came Sing a Song which rose to numbers 1 and 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively 82 83 Can t Hide Love got to No 11 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart 84 Can t Hide Love was Grammy nominated for Best Arrangement For Voices The album s title track was also nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R amp B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 11 During 1975 White established a production company called Kalimba Productions He signed artists such as his former bandleader Ramsey Lewis singer Deniece Williams who had once been a member of Stevie Wonder s Wonderlove backup group and girl group the Emotions Maurice loaned the band s signature Phenix Horns and most of the other band members and put these and others Kalimba artists on tour with EWF 10 While co producing and arranging EWF s follow up LP Williams s debut album This Is Niecy Ramsey Lewis s Salongo and the Emotions Flowers their first album on Columbia Records Charles Stepney died of a heart attack on May 17 1976 in Chicago at the age of 45 Spirit Edit With Stepney s death White went on to produce the band s new LP Spirit which was issued in October 1976 The album s title paid tribute to Stepney 85 86 The LP rose to No 2 on both the Billboard Top Pop Albums and Top Soul Albums charts 87 88 Craig Werner of Vibe called Spirit one of the group s defining moments and gospel soul for the ages 89 John Rockwell of The New York Times declared what is most interesting about Maurice White and his musicians is their refusal to be locked into any stylistic format 90 Spirit was certified US double platinum 91 Getaway reached No 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart 92 The song also rose to No 12 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Dance Club Play charts 93 94 Saturday Nite reached numbers 4 and 21 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively 95 96 Saturday Nite rose to No 12 on both the Billboard Dance Club Songs and UK Pop Singles charts respectively 97 98 Earth Wind and Fire was Grammy nominated for Best Instrumental Composition 99 During this period EWF concerts became loaded with pyrotechnics magic laser lights flying pyramids levitating guitarists and elaborate production tricks that included the entire group ascending in a pyramid and a disappearing act Stage magician Doug Henning appeared on many of their tours with his assistant and eventual successor David Copperfield George Faison began choreographing the shows 10 100 All n All Edit In November 1977 EWF released All n All their eighth studio album 101 It was inspired by Maurice s month long trip through Argentina and Brazil The album rose to No 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No 3 on the Billboard 200 chart 102 103 John Rockwell of The New York Times declared All n All shows Maurice White and his cohorts pushing their music ever more in a febrile jazz rock direction 104 Monroe Anderson of the Chicago Tribune called the album as a rare blend of poetry passion and artistic progression 105 All n All won a Grammy for Best R amp B Vocal Performance By A Duo Group Or Chorus 11 The album was certified US triple platinum 106 Serpentine Fire rose to No 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 107 108 Fantasy reached No 12 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No 14 on the UK Singles Chart 98 109 Fantasy was Grammy nominated for Best R amp B Song 99 Runnin won a Grammy for Best R amp B Instrumental 11 In April 1978 the band featured on Natalie Cole s special aired on CBS where they performed a medley 110 111 EWF also appeared in the July 1978 feature film Sgt Pepper s Lonely Hearts Club Band where they performed a cover of the Beatles Got to Get You into My Life The song was eventually added to the film s soundtrack However the film was a commercial failure EWF s rendition of Got to Get You into My Life was the biggest hit from the soundtrack reaching No 1 on the Billboard R amp B songs chart and No 9 on the Billboard Pop singles chart 10 112 113 114 The song was Grammy nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo Group or Chorus It went on to win a Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist s 11 99 The film s soundtrack was certified US platinum 115 The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 1 Edit In 1978 White established a vanity label of CBS titled The American Record Company ARC and alongside sound engineer George Massenburg a new recording studio called The Complex in West Los Angeles 10 In November 1978 EWF issued a compilation album on the new vanity label entitled The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 1 116 It rose to No 3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No 6 on the Billboard 200 chart 117 118 The album was certified quintuple platinum in the U S by the RIAA 119 September rose to No 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 120 121 September also reached No 3 on the UK Singles Chart 98 In January 1979 the band performed September and That s the Way of the World at the Music for UNICEF Concert The concert was broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly Other artists who performed at the event were ABBA Andy Gibb the Bee Gees Olivia Newton John Donna Summer and Rod Stewart The concert was Emmy nominated in the category of Outstanding Individual Achievement Special Class 122 123 124 I Am Edit During June 1979 EWF issued their ninth studio album I Am The LP rose to No 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No 3 on the Billboard 200 chart 125 126 I Am was certified US double platinum 127 Earth Wind and Fire s Maurice White and Philip Bailey performing in 1979 at the Ahoy Rotterdam The Netherlands Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times proclaimed that the album was freshly innovative for EWF 128 Eric Sieger of The Baltimore Sun described I Am as being faultlessly produced 129 Boogie Wonderland featuring the Emotions got to No 2 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 130 131 The song was also Grammy nominated in the categories of Best Disco Recording and Best R amp B Instrumental Performance 11 After the Love Has Gone reached No 2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Songs charts 132 133 The song made No 3 on both the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs and UK Pop Singles charts 98 134 The ballad was Grammy nominated in the category of Record of the Year After the Love Has Gone won a Grammy for the Best R amp B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group 11 Faces Edit During October 1980 EWF issued a double album titled Faces This LP was in the emerging post disco style and was partly recorded on the Caribbean island of Montserrat 135 136 The album rose to No 2 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No 10 on both the Billboard 200 and UK Albums charts 98 137 138 Faces was certified US gold 139 In a 2007 interview when asked which EWF album was his favorite Maurice White replied Probably Faces because we were really in tune and it gave us the opportunity to explore new areas 140 Soon after its release rhythm guitarist Al McKay left the band 10 Dennis Hunt of the Los Angeles Times declared Faces is the R amp B album of the year 135 Chuck Pratt of the Chicago Sun Times exclaimed this fine funk soul group puts its best face forward on this ambitious and generous double pocket set of intricately produced high gloss funk 141 A song off the LP titled Let Me Talk reached No 8 on the Billboard R amp B Singles chart and No 29 on the UK Singles Chart 98 142 Another single called You got to No 10 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Singles chart and No 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart 143 144 And Love Goes On rose to No 15 on the Billboard R amp B Singles chart 145 1981 1996 Electric sound Edit Raise Edit White decided that given the changing musical landscape the band needed to incorporate into their work more of the electronic sound which was popular at the time As a result EWF s eleventh album Raise was influenced by this new electronic sound and released in the Autumn of 1981 With this album rhythm guitarist Roland Bautista returned to EWF Bautista went on to give the band s sound a bit of a hard rock feel with his playing 10 Raise rose to No 1 on the Billboard Top R amp B Albums chart and No 5 on the Billboard 200 chart 146 147 Raise was certified US Platinum 148 Ken Tucker of Rolling Stone described Raise as a reflection of street gritty black pop 149 J D Considine of The Baltimore Sun noted that the album puts Earth Wind amp Fire back on the rock and roll road 150 Let s Groove reached No 1 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Songs chart and No 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart 151 152 This song was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R amp B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 11 I ve Had Enough got to No 29 on the UK Pop Singles chart 98 Wanna Be With You also rose to No 15 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart 153 Wanna Be With You won a Grammy for Best R amp B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 11 On October 30 1981 EWF appeared at American Bandstand s 30th Anniversary Special where they performed Let s Groove 154 In 1981 the Phenix Horns also began collaborations with Phil Collins and his band Genesis 155 Powerlight Edit During February 1983 EWF issued a studio album titled Powerlight The album rose to No 4 on the Billboard Top R amp B Albums chart and No 12 on the Billboard 200 chart 156 157 Powerlight was certified US Gold 158 Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times wrote Powerlight does show why EWF is one of the masters of studio pop 159 160 Hugh Wyatt of the New York Daily News found Earth Wind amp Fire gives new meaning to the word classy and I like it 161 Fall in Love with Me rose to No 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No 4 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Songs chart 162 163 Fall in Love with Me was Grammy nominated for Best R amp B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 11 Side by Side got to No 15 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Songs chart 164 EWF went on to appear on the soundtrack of the April 1983 animated feature film Rock amp Rule with the song Dance Dance Dance Artists such as Debbie Harry of Blondie Lou Reed and Cheap Trick also featured on the soundtrack LA Weekly noted the standout track is Earth Wind amp Fire s funky club jam Dance Dance Dance 165 Rock amp Rule was the first feature film of Nelvana Studios Spin called Rock amp Rule the greatest oddball scifi musical ever committed to animation cels Keith Breese of Contact Music described the movie as a masterpiece of outre animation and wildly ambitious vision and remains a triumph in animated feature film Rock amp Rule has also gone on to become a cult classic 165 166 167 Electric Universe Edit During November 1983 EWF issued their thirteenth studio album titled Electric Universe With the album came a unique fully new wave and synth pop sound for EWF 168 The album got to No 8 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No 40 on the Billboard 200 chart 169 170 Gary Graff of The Detroit Free Press exclaimed Plug in the planets This is the best disc this outfit has put together in quite some time 171 Matty Karas of Rolling Stone described Electric Universe as full of sensuous and at times rock oriented dance material 172 173 Magnetic rose to No 10 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Songs chart and No 36 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart 174 175 Touch got to No 23 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Songs chart 176 Hiatus Edit Maurice decided the band needed a break so he put EWF on hiatus in 1984 During the hiatus Maurice produced Barbra Streisand s 1984 album Emotion 177 He produced Ramsey Lewis on his 1985 album Fantasy The album reached No 13 on the Cashbox Jazz Albums chart 178 179 White released a self titled solo album in 1985 on Columbia The album rose to number 12 on the Billboard Top R amp B Albums chart A cover of Ben E King s Stand by Me got to No 6 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Singles chart and No 11 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart 180 181 182 183 Another album cut I Need You rose to No 20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart and No 30 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Singles chart 184 185 White co produced Pieces of a Dream s 1986 LP Joyride The album reached No 3 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums chart and No 18 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart 186 187 188 He then produced Neil Diamond s 1986 album Headed for the Future 189 190 White later guested on guitarist Lee Ritenour s 1986 Grammy nominated album Earth Run and produced Ramsey Lewis 1987 album Keys to the City 191 192 193 194 Philip Bailey issued his second solo album Chinese Wall in 1984 on Columbia He recorded Grammy nominated Gospel LP entitled The Wonders of His Love in 1984 and appeared upon Kenny Loggins 1985 album Vox Humana 195 196 In 1986 Bailey released his third studio album being Inside Out and his second Gospel LP Triumph which won a Grammy 197 Bailey later featured on Stevie Wonder s 1986 album In Square Circle and Ray Parker Jr s 1987 LP After Dark 195 198 Ralph Johnson produced The Temptations on their 1984 album Truly for You Verdine White promoted go go bands such as Trouble Funk and E U 10 The compilation album The Collection was released in 1986 It stayed at No 5 on the UK singles charts for two weeks and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry 98 199 Touch the World Edit During 1987 Maurice went about reconvening the band Verdine Johnson Bailey and Woolfolk returned New members guitarist vocalist Sheldon Reynolds keyboardist Vance Taylor and drummer Sonny Emory filled out the lineup A new horn section dubbed Earth Wind amp Fire Horns was created made up of Gary Bias on the saxophone Raymond Lee Brown on the trumpet and Reggie Young on flugelhorn and trombone 10 With this came the studio album Touch the World which was issued in November 1987 200 Touch the World rose to No 3 on the Billboard Top R amp B Albums chart and No 33 on the Billboard 200 chart 201 202 Touch the World was also certified US Gold 203 David Emerson of The Boston Globe called Touch the World one of their toughest and most convincing records ever 204 Pamela Bloom of High Fidelity proclaimed the message as always is stop step back and turn up your light 205 Touch the World was also nominated for a Soul Train Award in the category of Best R amp B Soul Album of the Year citation needed Skylark penned System of Survival for the album It became a hit single going to number one on both the Billboard R amp B and Dance charts System of Survival was nominated for a Soul Train Award in the category of Best R amp B Soul Single Group Band or Duo 200 206 207 Thinking of You got to No 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and No 3 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs chart 200 208 209 The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 2 Edit During November 1988 EWF issued a compilation album titled The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 2 The album was certified US Gold 210 211 Turn on The Beat Box reached No 26 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Songs chart 212 EWF went on to be nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Best Vocal Group 213 Heritage Edit During February 1990 EWF issued their fifteenth studio album entitled Heritage The album rose to No 19 on the Billboard Top R amp B Albums chart and No 18 on the UK Blues amp Soul Top British Soul Albums chart 214 215 216 People magazine described Heritage as an album with a full dose of energy and creativity 217 Don Palmer of Spin also proclaimed EWF s newest kicks with some genuine enthusiasm 218 The title track featuring The Boys got to No 5 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Songs chart 219 For the Love of You featuring MC Hammer rose to No 19 on the Billboard Hot R amp B Songs chart 220 The band appeared on the compilation album Music Speaks Louder Than Words released in 1990 on Epic Records Artists such as Phoebe Snow Roberta Flack Cyndi Lauper Patti LaBelle Animotion Atlantic Starr and Anne Murray featured on the album Songs were composed by both American and Soviet musicians and songwriters A sum of the proceeds went to the AFS Intercultural Exchanges programme an international body based in 70 countries which places exchange students with host families 221 222 The Eternal Dance Edit During 1992 EWF issued a compilation album called The Eternal Dance The LP was the band s first ever boxset The Boston Globe placed The Eternal Dance on their lists of the top ten recordings of both 1992 and 1993 223 224 On July 30 1993 former Phenix Horns saxophonist Don Myrick was fatally shot by a Santa Monica Police Department officer 225 Millenium Edit During September 1993 came the release of the band s 16th studio album Millennium issued on Warner Bros Records Artists such as Ronnie Laws and Prince appeared on the LP The album also rose to No 8 on the Billboard Top R amp B Albums chart and No 39 on the Billboard 200 chart 226 227 228 Millennium was certified Gold in Japan by the RIAJ 229 Tom Sinclair of Vibe proclaimed that EWF demonstrate they still have the knack for constructing mellifluous R amp B on the visionary romantic tip 230 Renee Graham of The Boston Globe noted that Millennium returns the band to its funk r amp b roots with a tasty bit of Minneapolis funk 231 Millennium was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award in the category of Best R amp B Soul Album Group Band or Duo 232 Sunday Morning got to No 10 on the US Billboard Adult R amp B Songs chart No 20 on the US Billboard Hot R amp B Songs chart No 35 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart and No 33 on the RPM Top Canadian Singles chart It was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R amp B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group 11 233 234 235 236 Spend the Night rose to No 36 on the Billboard Adult R amp B Songs chart 237 On October 13 of that year former lead vocalist Wade Flemons died from cancer in Battle Creek Michigan 238 Earth Wind amp Fire star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame In November 1993 EWF performed at the American Music Awards 20th anniversary special 239 During 1994 EWF was inducted into the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame 240 On September 14 of the following year the band received another tribute in the form of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 5 241 242 Maurice Sonny Emory Sheldon Reynolds Bailey Johnson Woolfolk and Verdine all attended the inauguration ceremony 241 242 1996 present Neo period Edit During 1996 Maurice launched a new label titled Kalimba Records based in Santa Monica California At the label also came a recording studio known as Magnet Vision 243 244 In the Name of Love Edit EWF s follow up studio album In the Name of Love was released in 1997 on Rhino Records The album went on to be noted as one with a digitised neo soul sound and style Phyl Garland of Stereo Review wrote with this set of skillfully shaped songs White has positioned Earth Wind amp Fire to move into the next century 245 Dan Glaister of The Guardian described In the Name of Love as a scorching album 246 The LP reached No 19 on the UK R amp B Albums chart 247 From the album a track titled When Love Goes Wrong got to No 33 on the Billboard Adult R amp B Songs chart Another song called Change Your Mind was issued as a single in 2006 by Kalimba 248 Change Your Mind rose to No 26 on the Billboard Adult R amp B Songs chart 249 250 During the previous year Maurice stopped regularly touring but still appeared on stage occasionally He explained that he wanted rest from the rigors of the road Bailey took the role of on stage leader Maurice maintained executive control 251 The band appeared on Wu Tang Clan offshoot Sunz of Man s 1998 debut album The Last Shall Be First 252 253 254 EWF gave an encore performance at the 1997 and 1998 Montreux Jazz Festivals 255 256 During Spring 1999 EWF appeared on the soundtrack of the animated sitcom The PJs 257 258 The Ultimate Collection Edit The band issued a compilation album titled The Ultimate Collection on Columbia 259 The album reached No 34 upon the UK Pop Albums Chart 98 A remix by UK dance duo Phats and Small called September 99 got to No 1 on the Canadian Dance Songs chart and No 25 on the UK Pop Singles chart 98 260 261 In 1999 the group performed on the A amp E Network show Live by Request 262 Website Startalk org was set up in 1999 in Maurice s honor Maurice later spoke of a mild affliction with Parkinson s disease Artists such as Steven Tyler of Aerosmith Boyz II Men Smokey Robinson Isaac Hayes Michael Jackson Eric Clapton and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine posted messages on the site for White 263 Maurice however had the disease under control so much so that he occasionally made appearances at EWF performances and continued to write record produce and develop new recordings On March 6 2000 EWF was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by hip hop artist Lil Kim to a standing ovation during the 15th annual ceremony held at New York s Waldorf Astoria Hotel Maurice Bailey Verdine and Johnson as well as former EWF members Al McKay Larry Dunn Woolfolk Fred White and Johnny Graham attended the ceremony At the gala they performed Shining Star and That s the Way of the World 4 264 EWF was a specially invited music guest at the June 20 2000 White House state dinner hosted by President Bill Clinton on the South Lawn of the White House in honor of His Majesty Mohammed VI King of Morocco and Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem 265 266 So impressed was the king by the band s performance that he made a personal request for EWF to perform in Morocco for his 37th birthday celebration on August 21 2000 267 EWF collaborated with Wyclef Jean on his second studio album The Ecleftic 2 Sides II a Book which was issued in August 2000 268 269 270 In 2001 a biographical documentary of the band titled Shining Stars The Official Story Of Earth Wind amp Fire was released directed by Kathryn Arnold Following the September 11 attacks of that year the band members donated 25 000 to the American Red Cross at a September 13 show at Virginia s Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater the band s first concert following those events 271 February 24 2002 saw EWF performing at the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City Utah 272 273 On June 17 2002 EWF was bestowed with the ASCAP Rhythm amp Soul Heritage Award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills California The award was presented by ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman Stevie Wonder and Jimmy Jam 274 On June 25 2002 EWF was bestowed with a BET Lifetime Achievement Award 275 The Essential Earth Wind amp Fire Edit Within July 2002 a compilation album titled The Essential Earth Wind amp Fire was issued by Columbia 276 The album was certified US Gold A sampler that featured remixes of Can t Hide Love and Let s Groove came off the LP The remix sampler got to No 4 on the UK Dance Singles Chart 277 278 A live album of the band s 1980 performance in Rio de Janeiro Brazil titled Live In Rio was released in November 2002 The Promise Edit During May 2003 EWF issued The Promise 279 The album peaked at No 19 on the Billboard Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums chart and No 5 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart 280 281 People magazine described The Promise as a musically rich 17 track set including five trademark instrumental interludes that blows away most of today s R amp B 282 Steve Jones of USA Today wrote with horn kissed ballads and infectious jazz funk grooves the band seems to have regained its spark 283 Artists such as Angie Stone The Emotions and Gerald Albright featured on the album 279 All in the Way featuring The Emotions got to No 13 on the Billboard Adult R amp B Songs chart and No 25 Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart 284 285 Hold Me reached No 28 on the Billboard Adult R amp B Songs chart Hold Me was Grammy nominated in the category of Best Traditional R amp B Vocal Performance 11 286 On July 7 2003 the band was inducted into Hollywood s Rockwalk In September 2003 EWF were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame 6 12 287 On February 8 2004 EWF performed in a tribute to funk at the 46th annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center Los Angeles California Other artists performing at this tribute were Parliament Funkadelic OutKast and Robert Randolph and the Family Band EWF sang Shining Star and then at Outkast s request crooned The Way You Move with them Robert Randolph and the Family Band performed their single I Need More Love and then all of the bands teamed to sing Parliament Funkadelic s classic Give Up the Funk Tear the Roof off the Sucker 288 289 EWF also covered Jimi Hendrix s Voodoo Child Slight Return on the May 2004 tribute album Power of Soul A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix 290 On June 8 2004 EWF were bestowed with the NARAS Signature Governors Award at Los Angeles s Beverly Hills Hotel 291 On September 27 2004 former Phenix Horns trombonist Louis Satterfield died aged 67 292 On December 11 2004 EWF was honored at the first annual Grammy Jam held at Los Angeles s Wiltern Theater At the Grammy Jam artists such as Stevie Wonder Yolanda Adams India Arie George Benson Sheila E Kanye West George Duke Usher and Jill Scott paid tribute to the band via their performances 293 294 EWF performed on Dick Clark s New Year s Rockin Eve on December 31 2004 295 The February 6 2005 Super Bowl XXXIX pregame show in Jacksonville Florida saw the band teaming with The Black Eyed Peas to sing Where Is the Love and Shining Star 296 297 In 2004 EWF and Chicago embarked upon a joint national tour It yielded a DVD of a concert that took place at Los Angeles Greek Theater titled Chicago amp Earth Wind amp Fire Live at the Greek Theatre This DVD was released on June 28 2005 and was certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA Chicago and EWF later collaborated for a new recording of Chicago s ballad If You Leave Me Now that was included on Chicago s 2005 compilation album Love Songs At the 57th Primetime Emmy Awards held on September 18 2005 at Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium the band performed as the opening act with The Black Eyed Peas 298 Illumination Edit During September 2005 Illumination EWF s 19th studio album was issued on Sanctuary Records On this album EWF collaborated with artists such as will i am Kelly Rowland Outkast s Big Boi Floetry and Brian McKnight Illumination reached No 8 on the Billboard Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums chart and No 32 on the Billboard 200 chart 299 300 Raymond Fiore of Entertainment Weekly described the LP as a mix of modern beats and retro horn lined soul 301 Steve Jones of USA Today noted that on the album EWF are as vibrant as ever 302 Illumination received a Grammy nomination for Best R amp B Album and a Soul Train Music Award nomination in the category of Best R amp B Soul Album EWF received a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Duo or Group 11 303 304 A song from the album called Pure Gold reached No 23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart 305 EWF also covered Outkast s The Way You Move featuring saxophonist Kenny G The single got to No 12 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart 306 307 Another single titled Show Me The Way featuring neo soul singer Raphael Saadiq got to No 16 on the Billboard Adult R amp B Songs chart 308 Show Me The Way was also Grammy nominated in the category of Best R amp B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 11 In 2006 Maurice worked with Maurice Hines brother of famed entertainer Gregory Hines to release the Broadway play Hot Feet This was a jukebox musical with the theme of the music of Earth Wind amp Fire Maurice co wrote with Allee Willis several new songs for the play 309 On February 11 2007 EWF performed Runaway Love alongside Mary J Blige and Ludacris at the 49th Grammy Awards held at Los Angeles s Staples Center 310 Earth Wind amp Fire performing at the opening ceremony of the 2008 U S Open August 25 2008 Interpretations Celebrating the Music of Earth Wind amp Fire an album featuring cover versions of EWF s material was released in March 2007 on Stax Records Executively produced by Maurice the LP featured artists such as Chaka Khan Kirk Franklin Lalah Hathaway Mint Condition Dwele Meshell Ndegeocello and Angie Stone The album rose to no 28 on the Billboard Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums chart 311 312 Kirk Franklin s cover of September reached No 17 on the Billboard Adult R amp B Songs chart and No 26 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart 313 314 Dwele s rendition of That s the Way of the World and Meshell Ndegeocello s cover of Fantasy were each nominated for Grammies in the category of Best Urban Alternative Performance 315 316 On April 25 2007 EWF performed as the opening act at a special edition of American Idol entitled Idol Gives Back At the gala the band performed a medley of Boogie Wonderland Shining Star and September 317 At the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo Norway on December 11 2007 EWF performed Fantasy and September The concert was broadcast to over 100 countries Artists such as Melissa Etheridge Alicia Keys Annie Lennox and Kylie Minogue also performed at the concert 318 During February 2008 EWF performed on the opening night of one of the oldest and largest musical festivals in Latin America Chile s Vina del Mar Festival The audience at the gala was so impressed by EWF s performance that the band was bestowed with the Gaviota de Plata The Silver Seagull the festival s highest performance award EWF s song In the Stone has been used for several years as the introductory theme for festival broadcasts 319 320 321 322 Earth Wind amp Fire tribute Munich Olympic Walk of Stars on April 9 2011 On March 10 2008 the band was inducted into the Munich Olympic Walk Of Stars 323 During May 2008 EWF performed at the Apollo Theater s fourth annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony 324 Maurice and Verdine Johnson and Bailey each received an honorary degree from the Arts and Media College at Columbia College Chicago s 2008 commencement exercises During the ceremony Verdine and Johnson both gave acceptance speeches before the four gave an impromptu performance of Shining Star 325 326 EWF performed at the opening ceremony of the 2008 US Open which was hosted by Forest Whitaker and served to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of tennis Open Era with a parade of more than 25 former US Open singles champions 327 EWF performed at the White House on February 22 2009 for the Governors Dinner they were the first musical artists to perform there after Barack Obama took office 328 During April 2009 former EWF keyboardist Robert Brookins died from a heart attack at the age of 46 329 On April 26 2009 EWF appeared at the 39th New Orleans Jazz amp Heritage Festival 330 The band aligned with Chicago once again for a joint tour 331 In September 2009 EWF were bestowed with the Daniel L Stephenson award for lifetime achievement in music at the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival 332 During February 2010 the band participated in the recording of the We Are the World 25 for Haiti single 333 334 Within that year Maurice Verdine and Bailey together with former EWF members McKay and Dunn were inducted into the Songwriter s Hall of Fame 335 336 In November 2011 the band received the Legend Award at the Soul Train Awards at Atlanta Georgia s Fox Theatre 337 In 2012 EWF were bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 20th Annual Trumpet Awards held at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta 338 On February 29 2012 former EWF rhythm guitarist Roland Bautista died at the age of 60 339 EWF along with former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton and Charlie Wilson guested on the LL Cool J track Something About You The song appeared on his 2013 album Authentic 340 Now Then amp Forever Edit Now Then amp Forever the group s first album in eight years was released on September 10 2013 by Legacy Recordings Sony Music 341 Artists such as Siedah Garrett former bandmate Larry Dunn and Terrence Blanchard made guest appearances upon the LP The album was also the first without musical input from founder Maurice White although he contributed to the it s liner notes 342 The album reached No 25 on the UK Pop Album Charts No 11 on the US Billboard 200 and No 6 on the US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums chart 343 344 345 Now Then amp Forever was also certified Silver in the UK by the BPI 346 Emerys Baird of Blues amp Soul gave a nine out of ten rating calling the album a glorious return to form EW amp F have produced an incredibly well balanced body of work a set full of contrast and colour sublime stuff 347 Elias Leight of Popmatters also wrote Now Then amp Forever has all the old colors and grooves an impeccable rhythm section prominent guitars and indomitable horns that trace and re trace motifs dancing rings around everything 348 A song from the album called Guiding Lights was released as a single and rose to No 16 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart and No 30 on the Billboard Adult R amp B Songs chart 349 350 Another single My Promise reached No 28 on the Billboard Adult R amp B Songs chart and No 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart 351 352 Singles Never and Why from The Promise were later issued in 2014 353 Never rose to No 17 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart Why got to No 19 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart 279 354 355 Holiday Edit On January 13 2014 former percussionist Beloyd Taylor who co wrote the band s 1976 hit Getaway died 356 During February 2014 EWF performed alongside Pharrell Janelle Monae at the 2014 NBA All Star Game 357 On May 2 former lead vocalist Jessica Cleaves died at age 65 358 On September 13 2014 EWF performed at Proms in the Park at Hyde Park with the BBC Concert Orchestra 359 On October 21 2014 EWF released their first ever holiday album titled Holiday 360 That album rose to No 26 on the Billboard Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums chart and No 8 on the Billboard Holiday Albums chart 361 362 On December 8 2014 EWF performed at the Kennedy Center Honors honoring Al Green 363 On December 14 2014 the band performed at the Christmas in Washington event 364 Maurice White died on February 4 2016 He was survived by his wife his two sons daughter and his brothers Verdine and Fred 365 Along with EWF Maurice was posthumously bestowed with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Grammy Awards ceremony on February 15 2016 At the ceremony Stevie Wonder and Pentatonix performed a rendition of That s the Way of the World in tribute to White 366 On December 4 of that year the band were also honoured with a Ebony Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ebony Power 100 Gala held in the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills California 367 On June 6 2017 EWF performed in downtown Nashville Tennessee at the CMT concert series program CMT Crossroads with artists such as Dan Shay Martina McBride Rascall Flatts Antebellum Darius Rucker and Sara Evans A performance of September with Antebellum on the show was nominated for a CMT Music Award in the category of Performance of the Year 368 369 During Summer 2017 the band went on a North American tour entitled 2054 The Tour with Chic 370 EWF went on to perform on the forum float at the 2018 Rose Parade held in Pasadena California 371 On May 2 2018 the band started a Las Vegas Residency at the Venetian Theatre Las Vegas Nevada 372 On September 10 2019 The Los Angeles City Council declared that September 21 would be dedicated Earth Wind amp Fire Day 373 On November 22 of that year the band received the Portrait of a Nation Prize at the Smithsonian s American Portrait Gala 374 EWF were one of the inductees at the 42nd Kennedy Center Honors that took place on December 7 2019 14 EWF became the first Black group to be inducted into Kennedy Honors 375 The band later guested on Meghan Trainor s October 2020 Christmas Album A Very Trainor Christmas 376 During September 2021 EWF reached the top 10 of Billboard s Adult R amp B Airplay chart for the first time in 28 years with their new single You Want My Love featuring Lucky Daye 377 On 24 April 2022 former saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk passed away at the age of 71 378 The band later embarked on a joint summer tour with Carlos Santana and made a guest appearance on the Isley Brothers September 2022 album Make Me Say It Again Girl 379 380 On January 1 2023 it was announced that former drummer Fred White had died at 67 381 In March 2023 Earth Wind amp Fire IP LLC filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement and trademark dilution against Substantial Music Group and Stellar Communications which had launched an Earth Wind amp Fire Legacy Reunion group 382 Earth Wind amp Fire will tour in 2023 as co headliners with Lionel Richie 382 Legacy EditEarth Wind amp Fire s songs have been covered by artists including Whitney Houston D Angelo Donny Osmond Patti LaBelle Taylor Swift Olly Murs Kirk Franklin 383 384 385 Wynonna Judd Maxine Nightingale Yolanda Adams Ledisi Miki Howard Chicago Chaka Khan and 112 384 385 EWF has been sampled by artists such as Drake A Tribe Called Quest Missy Elliott Public Enemy Snoop Dogg Jay Z the Fugees LL Cool J Kid Ink Salt N Pepa and Basement Jaxx The band has also been sampled by the likes of Bjork Diddy The Roots Will Smith Nas TLC Common Lupe Fiasco Big Sean Tupac Shakur and MC Lyte 383 384 385 EWF has influenced artists such as Beyonce 386 Usher 387 will i am 388 Janelle Monae 389 Mary J Blige 390 Prince 391 Pharrell Williams 392 India Arie 251 Jon Secada 393 and Wyclef Jean 251 They have also been influential to artists like Angie Stone 394 Patrice Rushen 395 The All American Rejects 396 Nelly 397 Teena Marie 398 Musiq Soulchild 251 Solange Knowles 399 Babyface 400 Taylor Dayne 401 Will Gregory of Goldfrapp 402 Outkast 403 and Gloria Estefan 404 Artists such as Jamiroquai 405 Melissa Etheridge 406 Pitbull 407 Lenny Kravitz 408 Vanessa Williams 409 Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers 410 Justice 411 Omarion 412 Rob Bourdon of Linkin Park 413 Jill Scott 251 and Justin Timberlake have also been influenced by EWF 414 The band has influenced artists such as Bonnie Raitt 415 Erykah Badu 416 Jamie Foxx 417 Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy 418 Lalah Hathaway 419 Amy Winehouse 420 and Meghan Trainor 421 Miles Davis described EWF as his all time favorite band saying they have everything horns electric guitar singers and more in one band 422 Quincy Jones proclaimed himself to be the biggest fan of Earth Wind amp Fire since day one 423 Alicia Keys proclaimed EWF as being the best band ever 424 Dionne Warwick named Earth Wind amp Fire her favorite group of all time 425 Mark Ronson proclaimed that he loves anything by Earth Wind amp Fire 426 In the movie Baadasssss the actor Khalil Kain portrayed a young Maurice White leading the early incarnation of Earth Wind amp Fire Released at the Sundance Film Festival the film was based on Melvin Van Peebles struggle to film and distribute the movie Sweet Sweetback s Baadasssss Song and was directed by his son Mario Van Peebles 427 428 Members EditMain article List of Earth Wind amp Fire band members Philip Bailey lead vocals conga percussion kalimba 1972 1984 1987 present Verdine White bass guitar backing vocals 1970 1984 1987 present Ralph Johnson percussion backing vocals 1972 1984 1987 present drums 1972 1984 with B David Whitworth percussion vocals 1996 present Myron McKinley keyboards musical director 2001 present John Paris drums vocals 2001 present Philip Bailey Jr vocals percussion 2008 present Morris O Connor lead guitar vocals 2008 present Serg Dimitrijevic rhythm guitar vocals 2012 present Awards and nominations EditMain article List of awards and nominations received by Earth Wind amp FireDiscography EditMain article Earth Wind amp Fire discography Studio albums Earth Wind amp Fire 1971 The Need of Love 1971 Last Days and Time 1972 Head to the Sky 1973 Open Our Eyes 1974 That s the Way of the World 1975 Spirit 1976 All n All 1977 I Am 1979 Faces 1980 Raise 1981 Powerlight 1983 Electric Universe 1983 Touch the World 1987 Heritage 1990 Millennium 1993 In the Name of Love 1997 The Promise 2003 Illumination 2005 Now Then amp Forever 2013 Holiday 2014 The Classic Christmas Album 2015 See also EditList of best selling music artists List of number one hits United States List of artists who reached number one in the United States List of number one dance hits United States List of artists who reached number one on the U S dance chartReferences Edit King Jason February 5 2016 Maurice White The Audacity of Uplift NPR Music Retrieved January 23 2021 a b c d e Maurice White songhall org Songwriters Hall of Fame Light Alan 1992 The Kalimba Story Rolling Stone a b c d Earth Wind amp Fire rockhall com Rock amp Roll Hall of Fame a b Earth Wind amp Fire Hollywood Walk of Fame October 25 2019 a b The Vocal Group Hall Of Fame Vocal Group Hall of Fame Wang Oliver February 5 2016 Maurice White five deep cuts from the Earth Wind amp Fire co founder The Guardian London Retrieved November 1 2016 Earth Wind amp Fire Members earthwindandfire com a b O Keefe Meghan April 22 2014 Happy Earth Wind amp Fire Day VH1 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Nathan David 1992 The Eternal Dance Earth Wind amp Fire The Eternal Dance Columbia Records a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Earth Wind amp Fire National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences November 23 2020 a b Legendary R amp B Group Earth Wind amp Fire Inducted into Hollywood s Rockwalk ascap com ASCAP July 7 2003 Totland Colton June 20 2012 Congressional medals awarded to community driven youths The Washington Times a b Celebrate the 2019 Honorees Kennedy Center December 8 2019 Earth Wind amp Fire Biography Rolling Stone Hogan Ed Maurice White AllMusic Retrieved November 26 2017 Washburn Jim December 21 1990 Sherry Scott Belts Out Thrilling Jazz in Her Rich Alto Los Angeles Times a b c Chuck Miller Earth Wind and Fire I ll Write a Song for You Goldmine Magazine Retrieved May 6 2009 Earth Wind amp Fire Earth Wind amp Fire 45worlds Earth Wind amp Fire Earth Wind amp Fire Top Soul Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Earth Wind amp Fire snepmusique com SNEP Bangs Lester June 24 1971 Earth Wind amp Fire Earth Wind amp Fire Rolling Stone Talbert Bob May 9 1971 Music s Finest Hour Symphonic Jazz Detroit Free Press p 47 via newspapers com Earth Wind amp Fire Sweet Sweetback s Baadasssss Song Stax Records April 1971 Sweet Sweetback s Baadasssss Song Soundtrack Top Soul Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire The Need Of Love 45worlds Earth Wind amp Fire The Need of Love Top Soul Albums Billboard Earth Wind and Fire Earth Wind and Fire The Need of Love Jazz Journal July 13 2019 Rudis Al December 3 1971 Earth Wind amp Fire The Need of Love Chicago Sun Times p 43 via newspapers com Earth Wind amp Fire I Think About Lovin You Hot Soul Songs Billboard a b c Huey Steve Earth Wind amp Fire AllMusic Retrieved November 26 2017 Lloyd Jack January 9 1975 Lack of Pop Music Trend is Healthy Sign to Producer The Philadelphia Inquirer p 27 Earth Wind amp Fire Last Days amp Time 45worlds Earth Wind amp Fire Last Days amp Time Top Soul Albums Billboard Top British Soul Albums Blues amp Soul No 292 December 4 1979 Sexton Paul November 17 1979 Earth Wind amp Fire Last Days and Time Record Mirror Vol 26 p 16 Goode Ovid Jr November 17 1972 Earth Wind amp Fire Last Days and Time Los Angeles Daily News p 37 via newspapers com The CASH BOX R amp B Top 65 Cashbox March 23 1973 Earth Wind amp Fire Head to the Sky 45worlds Earth Wind amp Fire Head To The Sky Top Soul Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Head To The Sky Billboard 200 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Head to the Sky RIAA Aletti Vince August 17 1973 Earth Wind amp Fire Head To The Sky Rolling Stone Record Review Nilsson Superstar Womack Kirk Lobo Savoy Good Times Cody Roberts founders Top New LP s Variety Vol 271 no 6 June 20 1973 p 50 ProQuest 963287955 via Proquest Earth Wind amp Fire Evil Adult Contemporary Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Evil Hot Soul Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Keep Your Head to the Sky Hot Soul Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Open Our Eyes 45worlds Emerson Ken May 9 1974 Earth Wind amp Fire Open Our Eyes Rolling Stone Christgau Robert 1974 Earth Wind amp Fire Open Our Eyes The Village Voice via robertchristgau com Earth Wind amp Fire Open Our Eyes Top Soul Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Open Our Eyes Top Pop Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Open Our Eyes riaa com RIAA Earth Wind amp Fire Mighty Mighty Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Mighty Mighty Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Kalimba Story Hot R amp B Songs Billboard J Connor John TV California Jam Simulates Live Rock Session The New York Times Earth Wind amp Fire Another Time Warner Bros Records September 1974 Earth Wind amp Fire Another Time Top R amp B Albums Billboard Wall Patrick February 23 2012 Ramsey Lewis The Full Interview The Post and Courier Charleston SC Ramsey Lewis Sun Goddess Top Soul Albums Billboard Ramsey Lewis Sun Goddess Billboard 200 Billboard Ramsey Lewis feat Earth Wind amp Fire Sun Goddess Top Soul Singles Billboard Ramsey Lewis Sun Goddess riaa com RIAA That s The Way Of The World IMDb Interrupted Greatness Charles Stepney July 15 2011 a b Flans Robyn December 1 2004 Classic Tracks Earth Wind amp Fire s Shining Star Mix Earth Wind amp Fire That s The Way Of The World Billboard 200 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire That s The Way Of The World Top Soul Albums Billboard Curwood Stephen July 18 1975 Records Nelson Earth etc Bee Gees The Boston Globe p 11 via newspapers com a b Easlea Daryl 2010 Earth Wind amp Fire That s the Way of the World Review BBC Music Earth Wind amp Fire That s the Way of the Worldb RIAA Earth Wind amp Fire Shining Star Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Shining Star Hot Soul Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire That s the Way of the World Hot Soul Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire That s the Way of the World Hot 100 Billboard Hagwood Stafford Ron June 14 2010 Earth Wind amp Fire in their element Sun Sentinel Earth Wind amp Fire Gratitude 45worlds Earth Wind amp Fire Gratitude Billboard 200 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Gratitude Top Soul Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Gratitude RIAA Earth Wind amp Fire Sing A Song Hot Soul Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Sing A Song Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Can t Hide Love Hot Soul Songs Billboard Charles Stepney A Shining Star Eclipsed wholecircleround co uk Archived from the original on October 10 2008 Retrieved May 8 2009 Earth Wind amp Fire Spirit 45worlds Earth Wind amp Fire Spirit Top Pop Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Spirit Top Soul Albums Billboard Werner Craig March 2001 Earth Wind amp Fire Spirit Vibe Magazine Vol 9 no 3 p 200 via Google Books Rockwell John October 22 1976 The Pop Life The New York Times Earth Wind amp Fire Spirit RIAA Earth Wind amp Fire Getaway Hot Soul Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Getaway Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Getaway Dance Club Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Saturday Nite Hot Soul Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Saturday Nite Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Saturday Nite Dance Club Songs Billboard a b c d e f g h i j Earth Wind amp Fire officialcharts com a b c Maurice White National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Palmer Robert November 27 1977 Earth Wind amp Fire at Garden with new song oriented show The New York Times Earth Wind amp Fire All N All 45worlds Earth Wind amp Fire All n All Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire All n All Billboard Rockwell John December 11 1977 Rock s History On Six Disks The New York Times Anderson Monroe December 11 1977 This week s listening lineup Chicago Tribune p 152 via newspapers com Earth Wind amp Fire All N All RIAA Earth Wind amp Fire Serpentine Fire Hot Soul Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Serpentine Fire Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Fantasy Hot Soul Songs Billboard Natalie Cole Special TV Guide 1978 O Connor John J April 27 1978 TV Miss Cole Oil Runaway The New York Times Sgt Pepper s Lonely Hearts Club Band Trivia IMDb Earth Wind amp Fire Got to Get You into My Life Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Got to Get You into My Life Hot 100 Billboard Various Artists Sgt Pepper s Lonely Hearts Club Band soundtrack RIAA Earth Wind amp Fire The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 1 45worlds com Earth Wind amp Fire The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 1 Top Soul Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 1 Billboard 200 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 1 RIAA Earth Wind amp Fire September Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire September Hot Soul Songs Billboard The Music For UNICEF Concert A Gift of Song USA 1979 UNICEF Rockwell John January 10 1979 Pop Stars Join to Tape Benefit for UNICEF The New York Times The Music for UNICEF Concert A Gift of Song 1979 IMDb Earth Wind amp Fire I Am Top Soul Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire I Am Billboard 200 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire I Am RIAA Johnson Connie July 1 1979 EWF The Sweetest Muzak Los Angeles Times p 367 via newspapers com Sieger Eric September 23 1979 Six major groups in area this week The Baltimore Sun p 134 via newspapers com Earth Wind amp Fire Boogie Wonderland Hot Soul Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Boogie Wonderland Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire After the Love Has Gone Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire After the Love Has Gone Hot Soul Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire After The Love Has Gone Adult Contemporary Songs Billboard a b Hunt Dennis November 30 1980 EARTH WIND amp FIRE FACES THE MUSIC Los Angeles Times p 324 via newspapers com Earth Wind amp Fire Faces 45worlds com Earth Wind amp Fire Faces Billboard 200 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Faces Top R amp B Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Faces RIAA Nathan David 2007 Maurice white still burning bright Blues amp Soul Pratt Chuck January 29 1981 Earth Wind amp Fire Faces Chicago Sun Times p 36 via newspapers com Earth Wind amp Fire Let Me Talk Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire You Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire You Adult Contemporary Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire And Love Goes On Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Raise Top R amp B Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Raise Billboard 200 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Raise RIAA Tucker Ken February 4 1982 Earth Wind amp Fire Raise Rolling Stone Considine J D November 15 1981 Album Reviews The Baltimore Sun p 60 via newspapers com Earth Wind amp Fire Let s Groove Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Let s Groove Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Wanna Be With You Hot Soul Songs Billboard American Bandstand s 30th Anniversary Special TV com The Phenix Horns AllMusic Earth Wind amp Fire Powerlight Top R amp B Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Powerlight Billboard 200 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Powerlight RIAA Johnson Connie February 27 1983 Earth Wind amp Fire Powerlight Los Angeles Times p 303 via newspapers com Johnson Connie February 27 1983 Earth Wind amp Fire Powerlight Los Angeles Times p 304 via newspapers com Wyatt Hugh February 25 1983 Music in a class all its own newspapers com New York Daily News p 151 Earth Wind amp Fire Fall in Love with Me Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Fall in Love with Me Hot 100 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Side by Side Billboard a b J O Connell Sean November 10 2010 Rock amp Rule Blu Ray Release Debbie Harry and Cheap Trick vs Cartoon Guitar Mutants and Lou Reed LA Weekly Spotlight on the music of Rock amp Rule Spin Vol 24 no 3 March 2008 p 110 Breese Keith November 2005 Rock amp Rule contactmusic net V Henderson Alex June 2015 Earth Wind amp Fire Electric Universe Expanded Edition alexvhenderson com Earth Wind amp Fire Electric Universe Top R amp B Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Electric Universe Billboard 200 Billboard Graff Gary December 4 1983 Earth Wind amp Fire Electric Universe Detroit Free Press p 74 via newspapers com Karas Matty February 16 1984 Earth Wind amp Fire Electric Universe The Rolling Stone Review 1985 p 93 ISBN 9780684183329 Karas Matty February 16 1984 Earth Wind amp Fire Electric Universe The Rolling Stone Review 1985 p 93 ISBN 9780684183329 Earth Wind amp Fire Magnetic Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Magnetic Dance Club Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Touch Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Barbra Streisand Emotion 45worlds com Album Reviews PDF Stereo Review Vol 51 no 1 January 1986 p 88 via americanradiohistory com Top Jazz Albums Cashbox Vol 49 no 27 December 28 1985 p 21 via archive org Maurice White album Columbia Records 1985 Maurice White album Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Maurice White Stand By Me Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard Maurice White Stand By Me Adult Contemporary Songs Billboard Maurice White I Need You Adult Contemporary Songs Billboard Maurice White I Need You Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Pieces of a Dream Joyride Manhattan Records 1986 Pieces of a Dream Joyride Traditional Jazz Albums Billboard Pieces of a Dream Joyride Top Soul Albums Billboard Holden Stephen July 20 1986 Neil Diamond At The Top The New York Times Neil Diamond Headed for the Future RIAA Lee Ritenour Earth Run theBillboard GRP Records April 1986 Ramsey Lewis Keys To The City Top Contemporary Jazz Albums Billboard Ramsey Lewis Keys To The City Columbia Records 1987 Lee Ritenour National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences a b Philip Bailey National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences November 19 2019 Kenny Loggins Vox Humana Columbia Records 1985 Philip Bailey Inside Out 45worlds com Ray Parker Jr After Dark 45worlds com Earth Wind amp Fire The Collection British Phonographic Industry a b c Earth Wind amp Fire Touch The World 45worlds com Earth Wind amp Fire Touch the World Top Soul Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Touch The World Billboard 200 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Touch The World RIAA Emerson David December 3 1987 Earth Wind amp Fire Touch The World The Boston Globe p 106 via newspapers com Bloom Pamela March 1988 Earth Wind amp Fire Touch the World PDF High Fidelity Vol 38 p 70 via americanradiohistory com Earth Wind amp Fire System of Survival Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire System of Survival Dance Club Play Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Thinking Of You Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Thinking Of You Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 2 45worlds com Earth Wind amp Fire The Best of Earth Wind amp Fire Vol 2 RIAA Earth Wind amp Fire Turn on The Beat Box Hot R amp B Singles Billboard Snow Shauna November 11 1988 Nominees for 21st Image Awards Announced Los Angeles Times Earth Wind amp Fire Heritage 45worlds com Earth Wind amp Fire Heritage Top R amp B Albums Billboard Top British Soul Albums Blues amp Soul No 557 March 27 1990 Picks and Pans Review Heritage People February 19 1990 Palmer Don April 1990 Earth Wind amp Fire Heritage Review Spin Vol 6 no 1 p 121 Earth Wind amp Fire Heritage Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire For The Love Of You Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Various Artists Music Speaks Louder Than Words Epic Records July 1990 Heim Chris August 3 1990 Epic Releases U S Soviet Songwriting Collaboration Chicago Tribune Smith Patricia December 17 1992 The Year s Top 10 Recordings The Boston Globe p 122 via newspapers com Smith Patricia December 16 1993 The Year s Top 10 Recordings The Boston Globe p 140 via newspapers com Questions Cloud Life Death of Saxophonist Music Those who loved Donald Myrick are still in shock over his fatal shooting by police in an apartment where drugs allegedly were found Los Angeles Times July 30 2012 Retrieved November 1 2016 Earth Wind amp Fire Millennium 45worlds com Earth Wind amp Fire Millennium Top R amp B Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Millennium Billboard 200 Billboard Oricon Album Chart Book Complete Edition 1970 2005 Roppongi Tokyo Oricon Entertainment 2006 ISBN 4 87131 077 9 Sinclair Tom September 1993 Earth Wind amp Fire Millennium Vibe Magazine Vol 1 no 1 Graham Renee October 21 1993 Earth Wind amp Fire Millennium Reprise The Boston Globe p 108 via newspapers com Sandler Adam February 1 1994 Jackson Braxton top Soul Train nominees Variety Earth Wind amp Fire Sunday Morning Hot R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Sunday Morning Adult R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Sunday Morning Adult Contemporary Songs Billboard RPM 100 RPM Vol 58 no 16 October 30 1993 Earth Wind amp Fire Spend the Night Adult R amp B Songs Billboard Wade Flemons Rockabilly nl Retrieved November 1 2016 The American Music Awards 20th Anniversary Special IMDb NAACP Image Award winners United Press International January 6 1994 a b Earth Wind amp Fire Hits The Sidewalk Cashbox Vol 59 no 3 October 14 1995 p 20 via archive org a b People Upi com Retrieved July 2 2021 Trias Mike July 4 2003 Artist Activity R amp R Magazine Kalimba Records Kalimba Records Garland Phyl November 1997 Earth Wind amp Fire In The Name of Love PDF Stereo Review Vol 62 p 126 via americanradiohistory com Glaister Dan July 18 1997 Elemental The Guardian London via newspapers com Official R amp B Albums Chart Top 40 Official Charts July 26 1997 Earth Wind amp Fire Change Your Mind Kalimba Music 2006 Earth Wind amp Fire Change Your Mind Adult R amp B Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire When Love Goes Wrong Adult R amp B Songs Billboard a b c d e The Billboard Salute Earth Wind amp Fire 30th Anniversary Billboard Vol 113 no 28 July 14 2001 p 36 ISSN 0006 2510 Sunz Of Man The Last Shall Be First AllMusic Sunz Of Man The Last Shall Be First Billboard 200 Billboard Archived from the original on November 8 2019 Sunz Of Man The Last Shall Be First Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Archived from the original on November 8 2019 Festival 1997 montreuxjazz com Festival 1998 montreuxjazz com SNOOP RAEKWON TIMBALAND AND JERMAINE DUPRI COME OUT FOR THE PJS MTV February 12 1999 The PJ s Soundtrack Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire The Ultimate Collection Columbia Records July 1999 Top 30 Dance RPM July 17 2013 Official Singles Chart Top 100 25 July 1999 31 July 1999 officialcharts com Official Charts King Susan July 16 1999 New Detective Animation Series Opening Night by Springsteen Los Angeles Times Celebrity Messages to Maurice startalk org Archived from the original on August 8 2008 Retrieved October 19 2011 Manning Kara March 8 2000 LIL KIM ON INDUCTING EARTH WIND amp FIRE INTO ROCK HALL MTV Roberts Roxanne Palmer Kimberly June 21 2000 Morocco s King of Hearts The Washington Post McCaffrey Shannon June 20 2000 Largest State Dinner at White House Associated Press Simon Bruce Dougatz Chad June 20 2000 Earth Wind amp Fire To Play For King Of Morocco Again Yahoo Music Retrieved June 20 2009 Wyclef Jean The Ecleftic 2 Sides II A Book Columbia Records August 2000 Wyclef Jean The Ecleftic 2 Sides II a Book Billboard Wyclef Jean The Ecleftic 2 Sides II a Book Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Simon Bruce September 13 2001 Donates 25 000 To American Red Cross Yahoo Music Retrieved June 2 2009 Winter Games close with quite a show ESPN OLYMPICS CLOSING CEREMONY Games End With a Mixture Of Rowdy Relief and Joy The New York Times Piccalo Gina Roug Louise June 19 2002 All the Elements of a Successful Career Los Angeles Times Earth Wind amp Fire gets BET Honors Associated Press June 25 2002 Earth Wind amp Fire The Essential Earth Wind amp Fire Columbia Records July 2002 Earth Wind amp Fire The Essential Earth Wind amp Fire Remix Sampler Columbia Records October 2002 Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 Official Charts October 26 2002 a b c Earth Wind amp Fire The Promise Kalimba Music 2003 Earth Wind amp Fire The Promise Top R amp B Hip Hop Album Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire The Promise Top Independent Albums Billboard Picks and Pans Main Song People May 26 2003 Burton Steve May 23 2003 Earth Wind amp Fire The Promise USA Today Earth Wind amp Fire All In The Way Adult R amp B Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire All In The Way Adult Contemporary Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Hold Me Adult R amp B Songs Billboard Vocal Group Hall Of Fame Inducts 2003 Class Billboard September 17 2003 The funk tribute was a memorable Grammys moment Entertainment Weekly February 9 2004 OutKast Timberlake set to play at Grammys United Press International January 13 2004 Power of Soul A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix AllMusic 2004 NARAS Awards Billboard Vol 116 no 22 May 29 2004 p 21 Louis Satterfield Biography Albums Streaming Links AllMusic Retrieved November 1 2016 EW amp F HONORED AT FIRST ANNUAL GRAMMY JAM Usher Stevie Wonder Jill Scott Kanye West amp Lots More Show Love eurweb com December 13 2004 Archived from the original on January 9 2009 Stars Jam For Earth Wind amp Fire Billboard Vol 116 no 52 December 25 2004 p 55 Bauder David December 31 2004 With Dick Clark laid low who ll host the party Seattle Post Intelligencer Associated Press Retrieved May 2 2009 David Bauder February 7 2005 McCartney plays it safe in halftime show MSNBC Archived from the original on May 10 2009 Retrieved January 3 2009 History of Entertainment at the Super Bowl National Football League Elber Lynn September 18 2005 Raymond Lost named best series The Baltimore Sun Earth Wind amp Fire Illumination Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Illumination Billboard 200 Billboard Fiore Raymond September 16 2005 Illumination 2005 Earth Wind amp Fire Entertainment Weekly Jones Steve October 17 2005 Angel Synth pop a la Mode USA Today R Kelly earns three Soul Train award nods Today Associated Press February 2 2006 37th Annual Image Awards nominations Variety February 23 2006 Earth Wind amp Fire Pure Gold Adult Contemporary Songs Billboard The Way You Move by Kenny G feat Earth Wind amp Fire secondhandsongs com Kenny G Featuring Earth Wind amp Fire The Way You Move Adult Contemporary Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Show Me The Way Adult R amp B Songs Billboard From Earth Wind amp Fire to Hot Feet NPR org NPR Leeds Jeff Manly Lorne February 12 2007 Defiant Dixie Chicks Are Big Winners at the Grammys The New York Times Interpretations Celebrating The Music of Earth Wind amp Fire EPK Stax Records March 16 2007 Archived from the original on October 29 2021 via YouTube Various Artists Interpretations Celebrating The Music Of Earth Wind amp Fire Billboard Kirk Franklin September Adult R amp B Songs Billboard Kirk Franklin September Hot Gospel Songs Billboard Dwele National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences November 23 2020 Meshell Ndegeocello National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences April 22 2021 Halperin Shirley April 26 2007 On the Scene Idol Gives Back Entertainment Weekly Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2007 nobelpeaceprize org Archived from the original on March 4 2009 Retrieved December 11 2007 Photo archive for February 21 2008 The Commercial Appeal Columbus Ohio Retrieved February 21 2008 Relive the best moments of Vina 2008 festival2009 canal13 cl Archived from the original on December 11 2008 Retrieved October 18 2008 Start Festival of Vina del Mar with the new seven wonders lasnoticiasmexico com Retrieved October 18 2008 Earth Wind amp Fire el gran ganador del Festival de Vina del Mar United Press International Archived from the original on May 15 2011 Retrieved December 10 2010 Earth Wind amp Fire olympiapark de Smokey Denzel set for Apollo honors United Press International May 12 2008 Only at Columbia No Pomp and Circumstance for These Grads They Rock the House with Earth Wind amp Fire Reuters May 20 2008 Archived from the original on June 20 2009 Doctor Is In Star Bulletin What s new at the 2008 US Open qns com Akers Mary Ann February 23 2009 Obamas Woo Governors With Spinach and Soul The Washington Post Singer Producer Songwriter Robert Brookins Has Died Radiofacts com April 16 2009 Retrieved November 1 2016 Montoya Maria April 26 2009 Decisions decisions Etta James Earth Wind and Fire or Dave Matthews Band nola com Retrieved April 27 2009 Payne Ed May 23 2009 Classic pop bands unite to tour create hits CNN Herndon Holly September 10 2009 CALIFORNIAN The stars shine for the 15th time at the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival The San Diego Union Tribune Duke Alan February 2 2010 Stars gather for We Are the World recording CNN The Song wearetheworldfoundation org Archived from the original on February 17 2010 Retrieved February 20 2010 Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees Songwriter s Hall of Fame Retrieved November 26 2017 Songwriter s Hall of Fame Songwriter s Hall of Fame Soul Train Awards 2011 Jill Scott amp Cee Lo Green Win Big Billboard November 18 2011 Ruggieri Melissa Trumpet Awards to honor media stars humanitarians and leaders accessatlanta com Archived from the original on May 11 2012 Retrieved August 27 2015 Former Earth Wind amp Fire guitarist Roland Bautista dies SoulTracks March 7 2012 LL Cool J Reveals the Tracklist for His Upcoming Authentic Complex com EARTH WIND AND FIRE DROPPING NEW ALBUM SEPT 10 Associated Press Retrieved June 24 2013 Earth Wind amp Fire Now Then amp Forever Sony Music September 2013 Earth Wind amp Fire officialcharts com Official Charts Earth Wind amp Fire Now Then amp Forever Billboard 200 Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Now Then amp Forever Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Now Then and Forever bpi co uk BPI Baird Emerys REVIEW EARTH WIND amp FIRE NOW THEN amp FOREVER SONY bluesandsoul com Blues amp Soul Leight Elias September 22 2013 Earth Wind and Fire Now Then amp Forever popmatters com Popmatters Earth Wind amp Fire Guiding Lights Smooth Jazz Songs billboard com Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Guiding Lights Adult R amp B Songs billboard com Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire My Promise Adult R amp B Songs billboard com Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire My Promise Adult Contemporary Songs billboard com Billboard Legendary Earth Wind amp Fire Founder Maurice White s Newly Relaunched Label Kalimba Music Gets More Great News Greg Manning s Cruisin Down The Road Is 1 Most Added and EWF s Never Holds Steady on Numerous Smooth Jazz Airplay Charts yahoo com Marketwired June 26 2014 Earth Wind amp Fire Never Smooth Jazz Songs Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Why Smooth Jazz Songs Billboard R I P Getaway songwriter Beloyd Taylor SoulTracks Soul Music Biographies News and Reviews SoulTracks January 15 2014 Retrieved November 1 2016 Oldenburg Ann February 17 2014 Pharrell Janelle Monae rock NBA All Star game USA Today Seikaly Andrea May 7 2014 Soul Singer Jessica Cleaves Dies at 65 Variety Proms in the Park Hyde Park BBC Music Events Retrieved July 2 2021 Gail Mitchell October 1 2015 Exclusive Earth Wind amp Fire to Release First Holiday Album Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Holiday Billboard Holiday Albums Billboard Earth Wind amp Fire Holiday Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Macpherson Robert December 8 2014 Sting Tom Hanks Al Green feted at Kennedy Center Honors Yahoo News Emily Yahr December 14 2014 First family first class performers spread joy at museum s Christmas in Washington The Washington Post Maurice White obituary The Guardian London February 5 2016 Retrieved February 5 2016 McKenzie Joi Marie February 15 2016 2016 Grammy Awards Pay Tribute to Late Musicians David Bowie Maurice White Glenn Frey and B B King ABC News ABC News Cicely Tyson Receives Lifetime Achievement Award At EBONY Power 100 Gala Vibe December 4 2016 Earth Wind amp Fire and Friends Meet at CMT Crossroads cmt com CMT June 22 2017 Brockington Ariana May 8 2018 CMT Music Awards Nominations Revealed Little Big Town to Host Variety Yoo Noah April 20 2017 Earth Wind amp Fire Announce North American Tour With Chic pitchfork com Pitchfork Bush Samantha January 1 2018 These were the 6 best moments of the 2018 Rose Parade dailynews com Los Angeles Daily News Earth Wind And Fire Announce Vegas Residency rttnews com RTT News December 10 2017 Hayes Rob September 10 2019 LA CITY COUNCIL DECLARES SEPT 21 EARTH WIND amp FIRE DAY abc7 com ABC Michelson Andrea November 22 2019 Here s What NPG Gala Honorees Have to Say About Their Portraits smithsonianmag com Smithsonian Earth Wind amp Fire Makes History By Becoming The First Black Group Inducted Into Kennedy Honors NewsOne December 15 2019 Retrieved December 15 2020 Meir Thomas November 24 2020 Watch Meghan Trainor Make Her Super Fan Dreams Come True in Music Video with Earth Wind amp Fire People People Anderson Trevor September 16 2021 Earth Wind amp Fire Return to Adult R amp B Airplay Top 10 for First Time in 28 Years Billboard Retrieved September 17 2021 Irvin Jack April 26 2022 Earth Wind amp Fire Saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk Dead at 71 After 6 Year Illness Great Talent People People C Johnson Kevin June 28 2022 Santana says tour with Earth Wind amp Fire is a spiritual revival stltoday com St Louis Post Dispatch Samuels Keithan September 30 2022 The Isley Brothers Share New Album Make Me Say It Again Girl ratedrnb com Rated R amp B Earth Wind amp Fire Drummer Fred White Dies at 67 Pitchfork January 2 2023 a b Kreps Daniel March 8 2023 Real Earth Wind amp Fire Sues Fake Earth Wind amp Fire for Trademark Infringement Deceiving Fans Rolling Stone Retrieved March 8 2023 a b Earth Wind and Fire CoverInfo de a b c Earth Wind and Fire Genius com a b c Artist Earth Wind amp Fire SecondHandSongs com Rogers Ray May 11 2011 Beyonce Q amp A The Billboard Music Awards Millennium Artist Discusses Her Career and New Album Billboard Zahn Paula April 30 2005 CNN People in the News Profiles of Mariah Carey and Usher CNN span, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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