Earth, Wind & Fire (abbreviated as 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. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.
The band was formed in Chicago by Maurice White in 1969, growing out of the Salty Peppers; its history includes a hiatus from mid-1984 to mid-1987.
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 tenor vocals.
The band has won six Grammys out of 17 nominations and four American Music Awards out of 12 nominations. 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, a NARAS Signature Governor's Award, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2012 Congressional Horizon Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2019.
-Wikipedia
Also Known As: EW&F, EWF
Members:
Verdine White - bass, backing vocals (1970-1984; 1987-present)
Philip Bailey Sr. - lead vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba (1972-1984; 1987-present)
Ralph Johnson - percussion, backing vocals (1972-1984; 1987-present); drums (1972-1984)
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)
Former Members:
Maurice White
Wade Flemons
Jessica Cleaves
Ronnie Laws
Roland Bautista
Larry Dunn
Andrew Woolfolk
Al McKay
Freddie Ravel
Sheldon Reynolds
The Phenix Horns
Doug Carn
Sonny Emory
Dick Smith
Vance Taylor
David Lautrec
Greg Moore
Morris Pleasure
Robert Brookins
Daniel de los Reyes
Kimberly Brewer
Kim Johnson
Krystal Bailey
Johnny Graham
Don Myrick
Name Origin:
Founding member Maurice White got his start in the Ramsey Lewis Trio in Chicago. In 1969, Maurice left the Ramsey Lewis Trio and joined two friends in Chicago, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, as a songwriting team composing songs and commercials in the Chicago area.
The three friends got a recording contract with Capitol and called themselves the "Salty Peppers,” and had a marginal hit in the Mid-western area called "La La Time.” That band featured Maurice on vocals, percussion and Kalimba along with keyboardists/vocalists Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead.
After relocating to Los Angeles and signing a new contract with Warner Bros., Maurice changed the band's name to Earth, Wind & Fire (after the three elements in his astrological chart).
From: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genre(s):
R&B,
soul,
funk,
pop,
disco,
progressive soul
Instrument(s):
Vocals,
Guitars,
Bass,
Drums,
Saxophone
Active From: 1969-present, (hiatus mid-1984 to mid-1987)