Milan, Italy. 23rd July 2013 -- Earth Wind & Fire performed live at City Sound in Milan. Earth, Wind and Fire Experience is a jazz-funk band from Chicago, Illinois. The group was formed in 1969 at the initiative of Maurice White.
When Maurice White was formulating his vision for Earth, Wind and Fire—the band name taken from elements associated with his astrological sign of Sagittarius—the singer/songwriter wanted to create an ensemble the likes of which had never been seen or heard before.
Musically, they would combine R&B, funk, jazz, rock and dance music. Lyrics would reflect a positive and spiritual outlook on life and the universe. And White’s interests in astrology, mysticism, and Ancient Egyptian/Black History would be expressed in the band’s stage costumes, sets and record covers.
even worked hard to convert band members—sometimes with an edge, because there was never any doubt as to who the group’s leader was—to mirror his personal practices of yoga, meditation, and a clean and healthy diet.
So, when a barely out-of-his-teens Philip Bailey joined the band as a co-lead vocalist in 1972 with other new members, did they initially share White’s vision…or not?
“Well, you have to understand, we were all 10 years younger than Maurice. So, he didn’t ask us for permission to do these things!” the now 73-year-old Bailey laughs.
“But we were on board to make his dream come true and sustain it with our success. It had power. We loved what we did and wanted to make the best music we could make. We did then and do now. It’s the soundtrack of so many people’s lives.”
Earth, Wind and Fire certainly had enough big hits in the ‘70s and ‘80s to cement their legacy. Among them “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Let’s Groove,” “Fantasy,” “Sing a Song,” “Serpentine Fire,” “Getaway” and ballads like “Shining Star,” “After the Love Has Gone,” “Reasons,” and “That’s the Way of the World.”
