#Earth wind and fire live professional

He spent nearly three years as part of the Ramsey Lewis Trio. At Chess, Maurice had the privilege of playing with such greats as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Billy Stewart, Willie Dixon, Sonny Stitt and Ramsey Lewis, whose trio he joined in 1967. He continued picking up drumming jobs on the side, which eventually lead to a steady spot as a studio percussionist with the legendary Chicago label, Chess Records. Jones, who eventually achieved stardom as Booker T and the MGs.After graduating high school, Maurice moved to the Windy City to continue his musical education at the prestigious Chicago Conservatory Of Music.

#Earth wind and fire live professional

His first professional performance was with Booker T. He began working gigs as a drummer while still in high school. At age six, he began singing in his church’s gospel choir but soon his interest turned to percussion. All of these styles played a role in the development of Maurice’s musical identity. He was immersed in a rich musical culture that spanned the boundaries between jazz, gospel, R&B, blues and early rock. I wanted our music to convey messages of universal love and harmony without force-feeding listeners’ spiritual content.”Maurice was born December 19, 1941, in Memphis, TN. We were coming out of a decade of experimentation, mind expansion and cosmic awareness. “Although we were basically jazz musicians, we played soul, funk, gospel, blues, jazz, rock and dance music…which somehow ended up becoming pop. “I wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before,” Maurice explains. It certainly was successful, as EWF combined high-caliber musicianship, wide-ranging musical genre eclecticism, and ’70s multicultural spiritualism. As founder and leader of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White not only embraced but also helped bring about this evolution of pop, which bridged the gap that has often separated the musical tastes of black and white America. From the funky and infectious “Let’s Groove” to the timeless dance classic “September” to the heartfelt “Reasons,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s catalog of hits has become the soundtrack to many lives now, then and forever.During the 1970s, a new brand of pop music was born – one that was steeped in African and African-American styles – particularly jazz and R&B but appealed to a broader cross-section of the listening public. Like the elements in their name, Earth, Wind & Fire’s music has withstood ever-changing trends in the world and shows no sign of vanishing as they continue to create joy and uplifting music that will forever reach a sacred universal atmosphere. The music of Earth, Wind & Fire is more alive than ever as they continue to inspire new audiences and thrill those who have been with them from the beginning.

In 2000, Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, cementing their lasting impact on popular music and, in 2019, their contributions to arts and culture was acknowledged in Washington DC with the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. They’ve won an impressive nine GRAMMY® Awards including one for Lifetime Achievement (2012). They’ve released 23 albums eight of those albums went Double Platinum and hit the Top 10, making them one of the best-selling artists of all time. They’ve scored eight number one hits and have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. With soul as deep as the planet, Earth, Wind & Fire charted a history that will live on forever. In 1969, music legend Maurice White birthed the music force named after the elements from his very own astrological charts. Earth, Wind & Fire are a music institution.