Earth, Wind & Fire (abbreviated as EW&F or EWF) is an American band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969. Their music encompasses a wide range of genres, including jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin, and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling bands in music history, with estimated worldwide sales exceeding 90 million records. The band was founded by Maurice White, evolving from an earlier group known as the Salty Peppers. Their career includes a hiatus between mid-1984 and mid-1987. Over the years, key members have included Verdine White, Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Larry Dunn, Al McKay, Roland Bautista, Robert Brookins, Sonny Emory, Ronnie Laws, Sheldon Reynolds, and Andrew Woolfolk. Earth, Wind & Fire are noted for their distinctive use of the kalimba, a prominent horn section, elaborate stage productions, and the vocal interplay between Philip Bailey’s falsetto and Maurice White’s tenor. The band has received multiple awards and honours, including six Grammy Awards from 17 nominations and four American Music Awards from 12 nominations. They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame, and Hollywood’s Rockwalk, and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Additional recognitions include the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, the BET Lifetime Achievement Award, the Soul Train Legend Award, the NARAS Signature Governor’s Award, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Congressional Horizon Award in 2012, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2019. Publications such as Rolling Stone and VH1 have described the band as highly influential within popular music. Studio albums Earth, Wind & Fire (1971) The Need of Love (1971) Last Days and Time (1972) Head to the Sky (1973) Open Our Eyes (1974) That's the Way of the World (1975) Gratitude (1975) Spirit (1976) All 'n All (1977) I Am (1979) Faces (1980) Raise! (1981) Powerlight (1983) Electric Universe (1983) Touch the World (1987) Heritage (1990) Millennium (1993) In the Name of Love (1997) The Promise (2003) Illumination (2005) Now, Then & Forever (2013) Holiday (2014)
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