Earth Wind and Fire were clearly elated to be joined again by their leader Maurice White, elaborated on their set. White called it "pure joy," while vocalist Philip Bailey added, "We experienced magic together . . . All the memories are flooding back."

Maurice White, Verdine White, Phillip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Larry Dunn, Al McKay, Andrew Woolfolk and Johnny Graham

Earth, Wind & Fire drew from various streams of black music, synthesizing soul, funk, R&B, pop, gospel and African styles into a polished, precision-tooled approach. During the latter half of the Seventies, they issued a string of albums that changed the face of black popular music, linking thrilling music with uplifting messages of racial pride, African consciousness and spiritual unity. A large and visually resplendent ensemble, its members often wore colorful African robes. The group was known for employing magic tricks (often directed by the late Doug Henning) in their elaborate late-Seventies stage shows. Even so, the anthemic power of "Shining Star," "Serpentine Fire," "Getaway" and numerous other crossover hits proved that Earth, Wind & Fire's music could stand on its own.

The group was founded by Memphis-born Maurice White, a session drummer who joined Chess Records' studio band from 1963 to 1967. Following a stint with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, he formed Earth, Wind & Fire in Los Angeles in 1969. A definitive nine-man lineup coalesced in the early Seventies around a core of White, who sang and played the African kalimba; his bass-playing brother, Verdine White; and vocalist Philip Bailey. The group's tight, punchy horn section became a featured attraction, but the musical currents ran deeply. "Our whole vision," Bailey has commented, "derived from the greats before us: Miles Davis and John Coltrane and all the great singers.... We were jazz musicians at heart playing popular music." Moreover, they were driven by idealism. "The essence of this band is hope," White has said.

Earth, Wind & Fire attracted a then-untapped audience of hip, young urban audience of blacks and whites that reacted to the energetic music and charismatic presentation. Their breakthrough album, That's the Way of the World (1975), yielded "Shining Star," a Grammy Award-winning #1 hit on both the pop and R&B charts. Earth, Wind & Fire's conquest of the Seventies continued with an unbroken run of multi-platinum albums: Gratitude (1975), Spirit (1976), All ‘n All (1977), The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 (1978) and I Am (1979).

In addition to overseeing Earth, Wind & Fire's albums and tours, White was fast becoming one of the hottest producers around. He even started his own label, ARC, in 1978. Without question one of the hardest-working bands in show business, Earth, Wind & Fire found themselves physically and creatively exhausted by the early Eighties. They took a four-year hiatus, during which time Maurice White devoted himself to production while Philip Bailey launched a dual solo career, finding success in both the Christian and pop fields. The much -in-demand Earth, Wind & Fire horn players, known as the Phoenix Horns, teamed up with Genesis and its singer/drummer, Phil Collins, on a number of hit recordings. Collins and Bailey collaborated on "Easy Lover," a #2 hit in 1984.

The reunited Earth, Wind & Fire bounced back in 1987 with a strong album (Touch the World) and single ("System of Survival"). They became an active recording and touring entity again, albeit at a less frantic pace. A career-spanning box set, The Eternal Dance, was released in 1992. Maurice White retired from the road in 1996 but remains Earth, Wind & Fire's producer and guiding light. The band's most recent studio recording, In the Name of Love, appeared on the Pyramid/Rhino label in 1997.

INFORMATION FROM ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

TIME LINE



1969
Maurice White co-founds the Salty Peppers in Chicago. They release two singles on Capitol Records.

January 15, 1971
Earth, Wind & Fire's self-titled debut album enters the Billboard album chart, peaking at #172.

January 1, 1972
Singer Philip Bailey joins a reconfigured Earth, Wind & Fire, with only brothers Maurice and Verdine White remaining from the original lineup.

April 27, 1974
"Mighty Mighty" becomes Earth, Wind & Fire's first single to crack the pop Top Forty. They'd first entered the R&B Top Forty in July 1973 with "Evil."

May 24, 1975
"Shining Star,' from Earth, Wind & Fire's 'That's the Way of the World', reaches #1 on Billboard's singles chart. It earns the first of many Grammys for the group, winning Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group.

September 20, 1975
Earth, Wind and Fire hit #12 with "That's the Way of the World".

1975
Earth, Wind and Fire hits #1 with "Shining Star".

January 1, 1976
The double-album Gratitude, a mix of studio and live recordings, tops the charts for three weeks. Earth, Wind & Fire's concerts, full of magic and pyrotechnics, help make them most popular R&B band of the mid-Seventies.

March 16, 1978
Earth, Wind & Fire wins three Grammys: Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group (for All 'N All), Best R&B Instrumental Performance ("Runnin'") and Best Arrangement for Accompanying Vocals ("Got to Get You Into My Life.")

1978
Earth, Wind and Fire hit #9 with "Got to Get You Into My Life" and #13 with "Serpentine Fire".

1978
Earth, Wind and Fire hit #2 with "After the Love Has Gone" and #8 with "September".

January 27, 1979
The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 peaks at #6 while the single "September" is on its way to #8. In February, Maurice White launches the American Recording Corporation (ARC), a CBS-distributed label whose artist roster included the Emotions and Deniece Williams.

1981
Earth, Wind and Fire hit #3 with "Let's Groove".

December 1, 1983
Electric Universe, Earth, Wind & Fire's 16th album, is released. Verdine White disbands the group.

November 1, 1987
Reunited after four years, Earth, Wind & Fire unveils Touch the World. Its lead single, "System of Survival," hits #1 on the R&B chart.

October 29, 1992
The Eternal Dance, a 55-track, three-CD box set spanning the Earth Wind & Fire's entire career, is released.

March 6, 2000
Earth, Wind & Fire is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the fifteenth annual induction dinner. Lil' Kim is their presenter.

***Source Rolling Stone Magazine