THE EVOLUTION OF THE ELEMENTS

EARTH, WIND & FIRE

1970-72

• Maurice White - vocals, drums, percussion, kalimba
• Wade Flemons - vocals, vibes, electric piano
• Don Whitehead - keyboards, vocals
• Verdine White - bass
• Sherry Scott - vocals
• Michael Beal - guitar, harmonica
• Leslie Dayton - trumpet
• Alex Thomas - trombone
• Chester (Chet) Washington - tenor saxophone
• Yackov Ben Israel - (Phil Williams) - congas, percussion

1972

• Maurice White - vocals, drums, kalimba
• Verdine White - bass
• Philip Bailey - vocals, congas, percussion
• Jessica Cleaves - vocals
• Larry Dunn - keyboards
• Roland Bautista - guitars
• Ronnie Laws - soprano and tenor saxophone, flute (Libra - born October 3, 1950, Houston, TX)
• Ralph Johnson - drums, percussion

1973

• Maurice White - vocals, drums, kalimba (Sagittarius - born December 19, 1941, Memphis, TN)
• Verdine White - bass (Leo - born July 25, 1951, Chicago, IL)
• Philip Bailey - vocals, congas, percussion (Taurus - born on May 8, 1951, Denver, CO)
• Jessica Cleaves - vocals (born 1948)
• Larry Dunn - keyboards (Gemini - born Lawrence Dunhill, on June 19, 1953, Denver, CO)
• Al McKay - guitars, percussion (Aquarius born on February 2, 1948, New Orleans, LA)
• Johnny Graham - guitar, percussion (Leo - born August 3, 1951, Louisville, KY)
• Andrew Woolfolk - saxophones, flute (Libra born on October 11, 1950, San Antonio, TX)
• Ralph Johnson - drums, percussion (Cancer born July 4, 1951, Los Angeles, CA)

1974-83

• Maurice White - vocals, drums, kalimba
• Verdine White - bass
• Philip Bailey - vocals, congas, percussion
• Larry Dunn - keyboards
• Al McKay - guitars, percussion (1973-80)
• Johnny Graham - guitars, percussion
• Roland Bautista - guitar (1981-83)
• Andrew Woolfolk - saxophones, flute, percussion
• Ralph Johnson - drums (1974-80), vocals (1974-), percussion (1981-83)
• Fred White - drums (1975-87) (Capricorn born January 13, 1955, Chicago, IL)

The Phenix Horns (1974-81)

• Michael Harris - trumpet, flugelhorn
• Rahmlee Michael Davies - trumpet, flugelhorn
• Louis Satterfield - trombone
• Don Myrick - saxophones
• Elmar Brown - trumpet (1979)

1987-1995

• Maurice White - vocals, drums, kalimba
• Verdine White - bass
• Philip Bailey - vocals, percussion
• Sheldon Reynolds - guitar, vocals
• Andrew Woolfolk - saxophones (-1993)
• Ralph Johnson - percussion
• Sonny Emory - drums (1989-1999)
• Freddie Ravel - keyboards (1992-1994)
• David Romero - percussion 
• Paul Minor - keyboards
• Bill Meyers - keyboards

1996-1998

• Maurice White - vocals, drums, kalimba
• Philip Bailey - vocals, percussion
• Verdine White - bass, vocals
• Ralph Johnson - percussion, vocals
• Sheldon Reynolds - guitar, vocals
• Sonny Emory - drums
• Morris Pleasure - keyboards
• Mike McKnight - keyboards
• David Romero - percussion
• David Whitworth - percussion, vocals

2001-

• Philip Bailey - vocals, percussion
• Verdine White - bass
• Ralph Johnson - percussion, vocals
• Robert Brookins - Musical Director & keyboards (2001 - 2004)
• B. David Whitworth - vocals & percussion 
• Myron McKinley - keyboards
• Bobby Gonzales - guitar (2001 - 2004)
• John Johnson - guitar (2001 - 2004)
• Greg Moore - guitar (2004 - )
• Vadim Zilberstein- guitar (2004 - )
• Daniel de los Reyes - percussion (2001 - 2004)
• John Paris - drums

The Earth, Wind & Fire Horns (1989-)

• Gary Bias - saxophones
• Ray Brown - trumpet, fluglehorn & section leader (1989-2004)
• Bobby Burns, Jr. - trumpet (2004 - )
• Reggie Young - trombone

The Earth, Wind & Fire Background Singers & Dancers

• Kimberly Brewer - Background vocals (2001 - 2004)
• Elizabeth Ramos - Dancer (2001 - 2004)
• Stacey Harper - Dancer (2001 - 2004)
• Krystal Bailey - Background Vocals (2004 - )
• Lisa Vaughan - Background Vocals (2004 - )

FACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS FOR

EARTH, WIND & FIRE

·         Founded By Maurice White In 1971

·         Originally on Warner Bros. Records: Signed to Columbia Records In 1972 By Record Industry Legend Clive Davis.

·         "Head To The Sky" - First Gold Album In 1973

·         Six Consecutive Double Platinum Albums (2 million)

o        "That's The Way Of The World"

o        "Gratitude"

o        "Spirit"

o        "All N' All"

o        "Best Of...., Vol. I"

o        "I Am"

·         First Black Act To Top Billboard Pop Single And Album Charts Simultaneously (May 24, 1975)

o        "Shining Star" (Single)

o        "That's The Way Of The World" (LP)

·         First Black Act To Receive Columbia Records Crystal Globe Award Signifying Five (5) Million Albums Sold Outside Home Country.

·         Top Selling Band in Columbia Records History

·         First Black Act To Tour With Completely Self-Contained Stage Presentation. (Staging, Lights, Sound, Costumes, Trucking, Etc.)

·         First Black Act To Headline An Arena Tour Around The World Without An Opening Act - 1979 (US, Europe, Japan).

·         First Black Act To Bring Full Production Show To South America - 1980

·         First Black Act To Receive Madison Square Garden Gold Ticket Award For 100,000 Tickets Sold.

·         Developed And Produced "Theatrical" Concepts That Are Still The Standard For Live Concert Presentations. Many Of The Rock & Roll Tour Production Veterans Cut Their Teeth On Early EWF Tours.

·         Remains A Major Influence On Many Of Today's Young Songwriters, Producers and Performers.

EARTH, WIND & FIRE

 REVIEWS & STATISTICS

Source: Amazon.com/CDNow.com and Surfer's Guide