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Earth Wind & Fire (EWF) have amassed a large number of hits throughout the years while cultivating a sound that fuses many different styles of music and garnering much critical acclaim.
The band was formed by Maurice White as the Salty Peppers before changing names. The band?s self-titled debut was released in 1970, and the sophomore effort, "The Need of Love" came the following year, both to praises from music critics. The band broke up after two albums, and reconnected shortly after White found more talent. "Head to the Sky" was released in 1973, which included the band?s two first singles ? "Evil" and "Keep Your Head to the Sky."
EWF was known for its ability to bring together a number of sounds from jazz and soul genres, plus several types of instruments for the ten-person collective, including vibes, electric pianos, and plenty of percussion.
The band?s breakthrough came from the "That?s the Way of the World" soundtrack in 1975. The group was featured in the film as "The Group," and one of their songs was the massive hit "Shining Star." The movie served as the spark to catapult them into stardom.
Most of the band?s songs developed from tours and sound checks ? "Sing a Song" and "Can?t Hide Love" are two examples. Live performances from the group were over the top for the time ? pyrotechnics, magic, flying pyramids, levitating guitarists and laser lights were all involved. That magical sound seemed to come through in the next album, "All ?N All." The album was double platinum, including the hits "Jupiter," "Fantasy" and "Be Ever Wonderful."
The band released several hits over its career, including "Let?s Groove," "Boogie Wonderland," "That?s the Way of the World" and "After the Love has Gone." In addition to commercial success, EWF received twenty Grammy Award nominations and six wins.
White set the band on hiatus in 1983, though they reconvened in 1987 for a special reunion album, and recorded several albums after that. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.
In recent years, EWF traveled on a massive tour with Chicago, which included several solo performances from the bands and a finale that brought them together. They continue to bring the funk regularly to fans all over the world.
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