For four decades, Earth, Wind & Fire has been one of the most electrifying groups in the music business, racking up 20 Grammys, achieving 50 gold records and selling 90 million albums on their way to a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
“These are acknowledgments that everyone agrees that we have done some good work and have really impressed humanity,” said original member Verdine White. “Our intention was always to be a great band, and obviously we did succeed at that level. We’ve had a lot of success in what we have done.”
With high-energy songs like “September,” “Shining Star” and “Boogie Wonderland,” Earth, Wind & Fire has a full-compliment of musicians to back up Philip Bailey, with his unmistakable falsetto voice.
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The legendary funk band will be headed to Wolf Trap’s Filene Center on Sunday as part of its 40th anniversary celebration.
“It’s high energy, you’re going to have a great time and we’re looking forward to coming there,” White said. “Wolf Trap is great, it’s always sold out and it’s a place we enjoy going back to year after year. We have great memories there.”
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White hopes the weather will cooperate since playing outdoor venues in the summer does come with the stigma that rain could damper the evening. In fact, Earth, Wind & Fire had to cancel a date in Chicago on Tuesday because of heavy wind and rain.
“It’s always a factor and we make it up sometime down the road, but hopefully things will be nice at Wolf Trap,” he said. “We plan to knock it out of the park.”
The band started to gain prominence in 1972 when original founder Maurice White added Bailey to the 10-piece band and the funk band began turning out their classic hits.
“We came along at the right time and had the right people work with us—people like Clive Davis,” White said. “These songs are really in people’s hearts. We had a couple of elements that really helped us quite a bit with getting them out there.”
EWF travels these days on a custom bus White calls a “living room on wheels,” complete with flat screens and all the comforts of home.
"Things were different in the day,” he said. “Back in the beginning we traveled in vans and station wagons.”
Of course, that’s not the only change the band has experienced. Maurice left due to an illness, other members came and went and their style started to incorporate influences from everything from Brazilian to Latin to electric funk.
“What’s great is that the band is still here. People like what we do,” White said. “It’s important to grow and you hope the new music you do will have its place.”
New audiences seem to be discovering the music as well thanks to Youtube and other social networking sites.
“Today, it’s about telling friends and word of mouth and that’s great,” White said. “Our audiences are always jam packed with people of all ages.”
After the summer, White said the band will be releasing some new music and an announcement about their plans will be coming shortly. For now, he’s just looking forward to getting back on the road and heading from town to town.
“It’s all fun,” he said. “It always has been.”
Earth, Wind and Fire takes the stage at 8 p.m. Sunday Tickets are $30 lawn, $45 in-house.