Earth, Wind & Fire

Founded in Chicago in 1969 by percussionist and composer Maurice White, Earth, Wind & Fire quickly coalesced around a core including Philip Bailey and Verdine White, with a horn section central to the band’s sound. Rooted in African-American musical traditions, the group blends funk, soul, R&B, disco, pop and jazz elements, marked by prominent vocal harmonies, precise horn arrangements and a taste for danceable rhythms. Their early 1970s albums explored a soul-jazz vein tinged with spirituality, before records such as “That’s the Way of the World” (1975), “All ’n All” (1977) and “I Am” (1979) established Earth, Wind & Fire on major international stages, combining expanded line-ups and elaborate stagecraft. Throughout the 1980s the band incorporated more electronic textures on albums like “Raise!” (1981) and “Powerlight” (1983), then went through periods of hiatus and reactivation, with Maurice White gradually stepping back from performing while remaining involved in artistic direction. Still active with a refreshed line-up, Earth, Wind & Fire continues to tour and occasionally record new projects, and their catalogue is regularly covered, sampled and cited by later generations of soul, R&B, pop and hip-hop artists.