Earth, Wind & Fire, The #66 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 (Continued From Part One)

While promoting the album, Earth, Wind & Fire began to upgrade its shows, incorporating pyrotechnics, laser lights, levitating guitarists and elaborate production into their concerts.  The band ascended onto the stage in a flying pyramid and, with the help of magician Doug Henning and his assistant, David Copperfield, the group appeared to vanish from sight.

In 1977, Earth, Wind & Fire released the album All 'N All.  Two more singles make our Top Underrated Songs* category, "Serpentine Fire" may have jumped to #1 on the R&B chart but it stalled at #13 overall.

 "Fantasy", however, represented a total glitch in the system when it peaked at #32. 

 "Love's Holiday" is a favorite among Earth, Wind & Fire fans.

 

The group became one of the only in history to obtain permission to record a Beatles song, which they did for the movie soundtrack to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band.  EWF's cover of "Got To Get You Into My Life" landed at #9 overall and #1 R&B.

But alas, just as they had tried to avoid a movie failure earlier in their career, this movie remake was another flop.

 

All 'N All has now sold over three million copies,  In 1978, Earth, Wind & Fire achieved a rarity in Grammy history.  They were nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for both the album as well as "Got To Get You Into My Life", winning the trophy for the former.  The group also won a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for "Runnin'".

 

For their compilation album The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1, the band recorded the new song "September".  Another R&B chart-topper, it peaked at #8 overall in the United States and incredulously gave the band their first Top 10 (#3) in the U.K.

In January of 1979, Earth, Wind & Fire performed at the Music for UNICEF Concert and donated royalties to the charity.

 

The next year, the group released the album I Am, another Double Platinum album.  By this time, the band's success had spread worldwide.  "Boogie Wonderland", performed with the Emotions, peaked at #2 on the R&B chart and #6 Popular in the U.S., and reached #4 in the U.K. and the Netherlands, #6 in Australia and #7 in New Zealand.  

 "Boogie Wonderland" was recognized at the Grammy Awards when it won for Best R&B Instrumental Performance and was nominated for Best Disco Recording.  Earth, Wind & Fire scored another of their biggest career hits with "After The Love Has Gone", #2 in the U.S., #4 in the U.K. and #8 in New Zealand.

"After The Love Has Gone" won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and was nominated for the prestigious Record of the Year.

In 1980, Earth, Wind & Fire released the album Faces.  It was certified Gold and rose to #2 on the Album chart.  McKay left afterwards, with Bautista rejoining the group.  

 

The following year, EWF released the album Raise!.  "Let's Groove" was the last big hit for the group, a worldwide smash--#1 R&B and #3 overall in the U.S., #2 in New Zealand, #3 in the U.K., #5 in the Netherlands and #7 in Canada.  

It reached Platinum status and was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.   "Wanna' Be With You" won a Grammy Award in the same category the following year.

The group kept their Gold album streak alive with Powerlight in 1983, but when the album Electric Universe failed to sell, Earth, Wind & Fire went on hiatus.  During this time, Bailey released a successful solo album while Maurice produced for Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond and Cher and also released a solo album in 1985.

In 1987, Maurice and Verdine White, Bailey, Johnson and Woolfolk reunited along with drummer Sonny Emory, guitarist Sheldon Reynolds and lead guitarist Dick Smith.  Since the Phenix Horns were busy with their own projects, including backing Phil Collins and Genesis, Earth, Wind & Fire began their own horn section with Gary Bias on saxophone, trumpeter Raymond Lee Brown and Reggie Young on trombone and flugelhorn.

The newly reformed group released the album Touch the World, which went Gold.  The next year, the band released their compilation The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. II, which also went Gold.  

In 1990, Earth, Wind & Fire released the album Heritage.  In 1992, the group released the anthology The Eternal Dance.  The next year, the band was back with Warner Brothers for the album Millennium.  "Sunday Morning" was nominated for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group at the Grammy Awards.

Earth, Wind & Fire received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.  White retired from touring, but helped the group record the album In the Name of Love on Pyramid Records.  

In 2000, Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  The group received a high honor in June when U.S. President Bill Clinton invited them to perform for the King of Morocco and his Princess.  King Mohammed VI loved the music so much that he asked that the group perform in Morocco for his 37th birthday celebration later in the year, which they did.

The documentary Shining Stars:  The Official Story of Earth, Wind & Fire was released in 2001.  In 2002, the group performed at the closing ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The next year, Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

In 2003, the band released the album The Promise.  "Hold Me" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.

In 2005, Earth, Wind & Fire recorded the song "Show Me The Way" with Raphael Saadiq, which was nominated the Grammy Awards.  The song was the lead single on the group's album Illumination.  The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the Grammy Awards.

Earth, Wind & Fire performed with the Black Eyed Peas in the pregame show for Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.  EWF joined Chicago for world tours in 2004 and 2005.  In 2008, the band performed at the opening ceremony for the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament.

The supergroup returned to the U.S. White House in 2009 for the Governors' Dinner hosted by President Barack Obama.  They then joined Chicago once again for a United States tour in 2009.

In 2010, Maurice and Verdine White, Bailey, McKay and Dunn were inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.  In 2013, the group released the album Now, Then & Forever.  The next year, EWF released the Christmas album Holiday.

Numerous artists have recorded songs by Earth, Wind & Fire and the following is just a sample of artists who say they were influenced by them:  Prince, Phil Collins, Beyonce, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, OutKast, Babyface, Lenny Kravitz, Jon Secada, Five for Fighting and the All-American Rejects.

Earth, Wind & Fire has sold over 100 million records.  Two songs by the group, "That's The Way Of The World" and "Shining Star" have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Earth, Wind & Fire has won seven Grammy Awards among 20 nominations and has won five American Music Awards out of 12 nominations.