Earth, Wind & Fire – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts
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Earth, Wind & Fire Biography
Earth, Wind & Fire (EWF) is a multi-genre band whose musical styles include R&B, soul, jazz, disco, funk, rock, and Latin. Maurice White, Phillip Bailey, Verdine White, Fred White, Larry Dunn, Ralph Johnson, John Paris, Johnny Graham, Ralph Johnson, Al McKay, and Andrew Woolfolk were among the band’s most important members.
EWF grew out of the Salty Peppers, a band Maurice White founded in 1968 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1969, White relocated to Los Angeles, California, and the band expanded to include his brother Verdine, Donny Hathaway, and Sherry Scott.
In 1970, White altered the band’s name to Earth, Wind & Fire to reflect his astrological sign, Sagittarius. Michael Beal, Chester Washington, Leslie Drayton, and Alex Thomas joined the band later on.
EWF’s debut album (self-titled) was released on the Warner Bros. label in February 1971. The album debuted at number 24 on Billboard’s Top Soul Albums chart. The soundtrack from the film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song was released in April 1971, and it peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Top R&B Album list. In November 1971, EWF also released their album The Need for Love.
In 1972, the band was reformed with Phillip Bailey and signed to record producer Clive Davis’ label, Columbia Records. Davis was so taken with the band that he paid Warner Bros. to buy out their contract.
Earth, Wind & Fire had a streak of hits throughout the rest of the 1970s. Head to the Sky, their debut album, debuted at No. 27 on the Billboard 200 in May 1973. The band cooperated with Ramsey Lewis on his album Sun Goddess, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart in 1974. That’s the Way of the World debuted at No. 1 on Billboard in March 1975. The first single, “Shining Star,” topped both the R&B and pop charts. Phillip Bailey’s hallmark song, “Reason,” was also included on the album. The next year, EWF issued the double-LP collection Gratitude, which included the songs “Sing a Song” and “Can’t Hide Love.”
In 1977, they published The Best of Earth, Wind, and Fire, Vol. 1, which included the single “September,” and in 1979, they worked with the Emotions on the hit singles “Boogie Wonderland” and “After the Love Has Gone.” Let’s Groove was released in 1981, followed by Powerhouse in 1983.
As interest in the band’s music dwindled, White disbanded the band in 1983, while Phillip Bailey and other members pursued solo projects. Touch the World was released in 1987, followed by Heritage (1990), Millennium (1993), In the Name of Love (1997), The Promise (2003), and Illumination in 2005. Their most recent album, Now, Then & Forever, was released in 2013.
The band earned six Grammys out of seventeen nominations and four American Music Awards out of twelve. They were 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, as well as being honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2019, the band won an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, a BET Lifetime Achievement Award, a Soul Train Legend Award, a NARAS Signature Governor’s Award, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2012 Congressional Horizon Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors. The band “changed the sound of black pop,” according to Rolling Stone, who described them as “innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet electrifying.” VH1 described EWF as “one of the greatest bands”.
On February 3, 2016, Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White died from Parkinson’s disease in Los Angeles at age 74.
Earth, Wind & Fire Discography
| Faces | |
| I Am | |
| All ‘n All | |
| Spirit | |
| That’s the Way of the World | |
| Open Our Eyes | |
| Head to the Sky | |
| Last Days and Time | |
| The Need of Love | |
| Earth, Wind & Fire |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where Is Earth Wind And Fire From?
Earth Wind and Fire is a band that was formed in Chicago, Illinois in the United States. The band has been active for over 40 years and has won multiple Grammy Awards. They are considered to be one of the most successful bands of all time.
When Did Earth, Wind And Fire Break Up?
The group Earth, Wind & Fire officially disbanded in 1983. However, the band members have continued to tour and perform together intermittently over the years.
What Is Earth Wind & Fire’S Most Popular Song?
“September” is Earth Wind & Fire’s most popular song. The song was released in 1978 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “September” has sold over six million copies and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Most Searched For Earth, Wind & Fire Songs
| Shining Star | |
| After the Love Has Gone | |
| Fantasy | |
| September | |
| That’s the Way of the World | |
| Sing a Song | |
| Reasons | |
| In the Stone |