Since the 1970s, Earth, Wind & Fire has crossed the divides of music genres, with a sound that blends R&B, funk, soul and jazz.
Read more Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea next week in first visit since 2019
A new HBO documentary, debuting Sunday, looks at the group’s origins and impact.
Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White set three principles for the band to follow: write music for a universal audience, evolve consciousness and change the world.
“His vision was spot on, musically, culturally,” bassist Verdine White told
The film highlights a turning point for the band in 1974 when they performed to a massive crowd at the California Jam music festival.
Read more Who should new grads boo more? AI or remote work?
“We were thoroughly embraced,” drummer Ralph Johnson recalled. “They loved what we did.”
Singer Philip Bailey says Maurice White was “the pilot of the plane,” guiding the band through its rise. Though the group split in 1983 and later reunited, Earth, Wind & Fire continues touring, with members calling the band’s legacy both “humbling and inspiring.”
While speaking with, Bailey, White and Johnson discuss the band’s founding vision, their memorable ’70s festival breakthrough, their breakup and reunion — and what these experiences represent for their legacy today.
Read more South Africa rolls out game-changing HIV shot amid funding shortfalls