Earth Wind and Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and funk band founded in Chicago in 1970 by Maurice White. The group has sold over 90 million records worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Founding members and early musicians include Wade Flemons, Sherry Scott, Chester Washington, Don Whitehead, Leslie Drayton, Michael Beal, Jessica Cleaves, and Ronnie Laws. The rhythm section and horns were driven by Verdine White (bass), Fred White and Ralph Johnson (drums), Johnny Graham and Al McKay (guitar).

Keyboards and arrangements were heavily influenced by Larry Dunn, Morris Pleasure, and Myron McKinley. The band’s characteristic voice is inseparable from Philip Bailey (also credited as Philip Doron Bailey) and Maurice White. The horn and wind sections also relied on musicians like Andrew Woolfolk (saxophone), Roland Bautista (guitar), and Alexander Thomas (trombone).

Other contributors include Carl Carwell, Bernard Taylor, Robert Brookins, Wayne Vaughn, Greg Moore, Sheldon Reynolds, Sonny Emory, and Phillard Williams. The current lineup includes Verdine White, Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Myron McKinley, Morris O'Connor, John Paris, David Whitworth, and Serg Dimitrijevic.

The group is also known by many spelling variations and abbreviations, such as EWF, E.W.F., Earth, Wind & Fire, or Japanese and Chinese transcriptions.