What is Earth, Wind, And Fire?
1.
Earth, Wind, and Fire, noun.
(Modern Popular Musicology, R&B Music, Top 40 Popular Music)
On this day, January 1, 2006 (Sunday) --Earth, Wind, and Fire ushered in the New Year -- leaving the old year of 2005 behind at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino Event Center located in Verona, New York approximately 30 miles east of Syracuse, New York.
The multi--award winning and platinum selling music group was formed by Maurice White -- lead vocalist, drummer, songwriter, kalimba player, and producer born on December 19, 1941.
The R&B group was formed in 1969 by "record deal" in Los Angles, California with brother Verdine White born July 25, 1951 -- bass guitarist, writer, and the "Energy Center" of the group that latter added Philip Bailey from Denver born on May 8, 1951 in 1971.
Philip Bailey, lead co-singer, percussionist, writer, and now co-head of the group with Verdine White and one of the original member's
Maurice White, the founder of EW&F, has taken leave from the group after being stricken with Parkinson's disease about eight years ago -- was absent from the performance by body but not in spirit.
The band started its performance on Saturday December 31, 2005 at about 10:45 PM on
Members from the original group of the 1970's to present fame consisted only of the three of its original members -- Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, and Verdine White.
The original Earth, Wind, and Fire consisted of: Maurice White
(Vocals, Kalimba, Drums, Songwriting, and Production) as formerly stated; Verdine White (Vocals, Bass guitarist, Percussion, Songwriting); Philip Bailey (Vocals, Congas, Percussion, Songwriting); Larry Dunn (Piano, Organ, Moog Synthesizer, Songwriting); Al McKay (Guitars, Percussion, Songwriting); Johnny Graham (Guitars); Andrew Woolfolk (Flute, Tenor and Soprano Saxophones); Fred White (Drums, Percussion) and Ralph Johnson (Drums, Percussion, Vocals).
The group that performed at the Turning Stone Casino consisted of John Paris -- drummer/vocals; David Wentworth -- vocals; Miron McKinley -- Keyboard Director; Bobby Burns -- trumpet; Gary Bias -- saxophone(s); Reggie Young -- trombone; Kim Johnson -- vocals; Greg Moore/Morre -- guitar/vocals and Vadim Zlbershtin/Zlhershtin -- guitar.
Earth, Wind, and Fire peformed the following songs in chronological / time line order:
Rock That; Lovely People; Shining Star; This is How I Feel; Saturday Nite; Sun Goddess; Boogie Wonderland; Drum Song; Serepentine Fire; Kalimba Story; Evil; Brazilian Rhyme; After the Love is Gone; Got to Get You Into my Life; The Way you Move; Sing a Song; September; Fantasy; Let's Groove; Love Dance; Getaway and "That's the Way of the World".
At the stroke of 12 midnight 2006, "Sing a Song," was performed leading into Auld/Old Lang Syne "crossing" from the year 2005 into the year 2006 with the song "September".
Earth, Wind, and Fire -- you are saluted for your very unique and well written counterpoint music.
Earth, Wind, and Fire -- you are still ahead of your time.
Special thanks to Wendy Cianfrocco, Jessica Gorman, Christine Johnson, and Dr. Roosevelt "Rick" Wright, Jr. of Syracuse University and the Clear Channel Company.
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