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Sometimes their music's called "Elemental Ecstacy!"
Their music oozes with Scintillating energy! Colorful melodies! Contagious rhythms! Powerful messages!
This is only the tip of the iceberg in describing the music of super-group Earth, Wind & Fire.
Earth, Wind & Fire took form as the brain-child of vocalist, drummer/percussionist, writer and producer, "Maurice
White.
From 1962 -1965 while residing in Chicago, Illinois, Maurice White built a strong reputation by playing drums in hundreds
of sessions for Chess Records In late 1965, White began touring with popular jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis. Through the years
White developed a concept that would influence a generation of younger fans who were into jazz, yet liked to get into the
groove, all the while expressing a message of peace, love and commitment. With the blessings of Ramsey Lewis, White resigned
from the trio in 1968, making him free to embark on his vision full-time.
In late1968, Maurice White moved back to Chicago and joined forces with popular vocalist Wade Flemons (Here I Stand) and
keyboardist Don Whitehead (member of the Chicago Music Ensemble) to begin writing material and practicing their crafts. The
trio felt so strongly about a selection they'd composed titled "La La Time" they decided to record it. Using funds
that Maurice White had saved from touring as part of the Ramsey Lewis Trio they recorded a single as the"The Salty Peppers"
. "La La Time" became a regional hit in March of 1969.
Buoyed by the success of their first single, White, Flemons and Whitehead continued to write and record, and in September
1969, they released a single called "Ugh, Ugh Yeah" with "Your Love Is Life" as the flipside. The Salty
Peppers dealt with a two-edged sword upon releasing this single. It wasn't as accepted by the public as the earlier single
La La Time, but it did catch the attention of a Capitol Records employee and soon the wheels started turning for the group,
they were offered a deal with Capitol Records to record an entire album, so the group packed up and moved from Chicago to
Los Angeles in early 1970. Unfortunately, when they arrived in LA., they soon found out their wasn't going to be an album
(unknown reasons). To the group's credit, they stayed in L.A. where they could continue instilling their concept and hopefully
gain better connections.
Note: "The Late" Donnie Hathaway ("Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get To You") is
rumored to have appeared as a vocalist for the Salty Peppers in 1969, but it hasnt been confirmed on this site whether or
not he was a vocalist on "La La Time", "Ugh, Huh Yeah" or "Your Love Is Life".
Realizing the name "Salty Peppers' wasn't universal enough, White decided on a name that reflected his astrological
sign "Sagittarius," and came up with the name "Earth, Wind and Fire."
Within weeks the group had met with NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown who at that time was heading a management company and
they signed with him, giving the group better representation, and more of a chance to get noticed.
Also during this time, Maurice White courted his younger brother Verdine about coming out to L.A. to join the group.
Verdine had become an excellent bass player by this time, playing upright bass and studying under the tutelage of the legendery
bassist for Chess Records "The Late" Louis Satterfield. Verdine accepted, so in June 1970, he graduated from college
in Chicago, caught a Greyhound bus to Los Angeles to join with his brother Maurice and never looked back.
With a new name, his talented brother playing bass, the rest of the group White had compiled and new management, EW&F
was ready to take on the world in a positive way and make music history in doing so.
This site discusses the accomplishments of Earth, Wind & Fire" album by album between 1970 and 1984, their heyday.
EW&F's journey landed the group in Rock & Roll's Hall of Fame in 2000 and what's remarkable is that they're not
nearly finished.
Please take this journey and discover revealing facts about EW&F and hopefully you'll enjoy the ride.
Peace JPinDayton
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