Maurice White / Philip Bailey / Verdine White / Larry Dunn / Al McKay (Earth, Wind and Fire)
The most popular r&b band of the mid-1970s, Earth, Wind and Fire won Grammy Awards for songs including “Shining Star” and “Runnin’” while staging ambitious and enormously entertaining concert productions. Founded by former session drummer Maurice White and featuring vocalist Philip Bailey, the nine-piece group’s uniquely employed White’s African kalimba-playing, but was heavily influenced by great jazz singers as well as legendary instrumentalists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Besides hit singles, they enjoyed multiplatinum album success, and were rewarded in 2000 with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Key songs in the Earth, Wind and Fire catalog include “Reasons,” “September,” “Shining Star,” “Sing A Song” and “That’s The Way Of The World.”
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