The Groove
Saturday February 4th, 2023 with Elorious Cain
FRED WHITE (January 13, 1955, - January 1, 2023) /////////////
A Black History Month Celebration of EARTH, WIND & FIRE
FRED WHITE was a drummer and song writer from Chicago that has been greatly celebrated as one of the drummers in EARTH, WIND & FIRE. FRED WHITE contributed has talents to a variety of FUNK and ROCK recordings before he joined EARTH, WIND & FIRE in 1974.
(photo: FRED WHITE playing with EARTH, WIND & FIRE)
| EARTH, WIND & FIRE
------------------------------- Often referred to as the most influential band in the FUNK and DISCO market, EARTH, WIND & FIRE was definitely one of the most successful, selling over 80 million records! We don't believe that they were the most influential band. They were definitely one of the most positive and identifiable bands. Let's start in 1969 when the future EARTH, WIND & FIRE leader Maurice White joined two friends in Chicago, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, to write and record advertising jingles and early FUNK records under the name 'THE SALTY PEPPERS.' Many sources claim the group to be the "beginning of EARTH, WIND & FIRE". Here is "LA, LA, LA TIME" which was the most successful song from THE SALTY PEPPERS: FRED WHITE played the drums in this! |
| LA,LA, LA TIME (PART 1) THE SALTY PEPPERS - 7" - CAPITOL |
| In 1971, EARTH, WIND & FIRE actually had three albums recorded. The least common one was a soundtrack for MELVIN VAN PEEPLES very controversial film "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song". Actually released before the film, EARTH, WIND & FIRE supplied all of the music for the Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (An Opera) soundtrack. We are featuring 2 tracks from it: |
| SWEETBACK'S THEME EARTH WIND & FIRE - SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSSS SONG (AN OPERA) LP - STAX |
| In the early years of EARTH, WIND & FIRE, they were often celebrated as blend of AFRICAN, JAZZ, FUNK, GOSPEL, even BLUES. One American radio announcer called them a combination of WAR and OSIBISA. Yet, regardless of the popularity and influence of WAR and OSIBISA, what EARTH, WIND & FIRE offered it's own distinct generous sound. Even in the early uptempo FUNK recordings, the group offered a positive emotional energy. |
| BAD TUNE EARTH WIND & FIRE - EARTH WIND & FIRE (LP) - WARNER BROS. |
| COME ON FEET EARTH WIND & FIRE - SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSSS SONG (AN OPERA) LP - STAX |
| I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES EARTH WIND & FIRE - THE NEED OF LOVE (LP) - WARNER BROS. |
| C'MON CHILDREN EARTH WIND & FIRE - EARTH WIND & FIRE (LP) - WARNER BROS. |
| SEE THE LIGHT EARTH, WIND & FIRE - THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD (LP) - COLUMBIA |
| EARTH, WIND & FIRE featured the silky vocals of JESSICA CLEAVES in their song "I'd Rather Have You"'. The late JESSICA CLEAVES was the lead singer of THE FRIENDS OF DISTINCTION. |
| I'D RATHER HAVE YOU EARTH WIND & FIRE featuring JESSICA CLEAVES - LAST DAYS AND TIME (LP) - WARNER BROS. |
| MAKE IT WITH YOU EARTH WIND & FIRE - LAST DAYS AND TIME (LP) - WARNER BROS. |
| TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE EARTH WIND & FIRE - LAST DAYS AND TIME (LP) - WARNER BROS. |
| EARTH, WIND & FIRE recorded "Sun Goddess" with RAMSEY LEWIS in 1974 with considerable success. It really wasn't that much of stretch for band leader MAURICE WHITE who was actually a member of THE RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO for a while. MAURICE WHITE would produce and perform on the RAMSY LEWIS 1976 LP 'Sălongo' also. |
| SUN GODDESS RAMSEY LEWIS - SUN GODDESS (LP) - COLUMBIA |
| BRAZILICA RAMSEY LEWIS - SALONGO (LP) - COLUMBIA |
| ZANZIBAR EARTH, WIND & FIRE - HEAD TO THE SKY (LP) - COLUMBIA |
| The material in the rest of the show will be recognized by most. These are the hits and discotheque standards that really made the band the commercial success they are. |
| SHINING STAR EARTH, WIND & FIRE - THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD (LP) - COLUMBIA |
| LET'S GROOVE (DISCO VERSION) EARTH, WIND & FIRE - 12" - COLUMBIA |
| KALIMBA TREE EARTH, WIND & FIRE - RAISE! (LP) - ARC/COLUMBIA |
| YOU ARE THE WINNER EARTH, WIND & FIRE - RAISE! (LP) - ARC/COLUMBIA |
| SERPENTINE FIRE EARTH, WIND & FIRE - ALL 'N ALL (LP) - COLUMBIA |
| IN THE STONE EARTH, WIND & FIRE - I AM (LP) - ARC/COLUMBIA |
| BOOGIE WONDERLAND EARTH, WIND & FIRE with THE EMOTIONS - 12" - COLUMBIA |
| MY LOVE EARTH, WIND & FIRE - RAISE! (LP) - ARC/COLUMBIA |
| SOMETHING SPECIAL EARTH, WIND & FIRE - POWERLIGHT (LP) - COLUMBIA |
| SEPTEMBER EARTH, WIND & FIRE - 7" - COLUMBIA |
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I can't wait for the groove black history month celebration. I got my dancing shoes on/ my sunglasses ready
9:52 AM, February 4th, 2023