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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
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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
Interactive CKCU
Shelly
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
Elorious Cain (host)
Stay tuned. Hope you enjoy

10:11 AM, February 4th, 2023
Johnny G
What a great playlist! I am looking forward to today's show.

12:23 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you for your early comment!

12:35 PM, February 4th, 2023
Tara Hecton
Wicked groove

1:07 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you for your comment.

1:08 PM, February 4th, 2023
hb
🎶👍🕺

1:10 PM, February 4th, 2023
JellyFishMANTRA44
thank you!!!!!

1:14 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you hb and JELLYFISHMANTRA44!

1:14 PM, February 4th, 2023
W.T.
This early EWF is not very good. Waiting for their future gold :>))

1:18 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you for the comment. I hope that you enjoy the rest of the show!

1:21 PM, February 4th, 2023
Basil Van Hasan
Loving the EARTH WIND AND FIRE music

1:31 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you for the comment!

1:34 PM, February 4th, 2023
Tim
These guys sound like a Black CHICAGO.

1:42 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
EARTH, WIND & FIRE had a very unique and identifiable sound that had absolutely nothing to do with the group CHICAGO. Thank you for the comment.

1:46 PM, February 4th, 2023
Toby
Great BHM tribute.

1:51 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you for the comment.

1:53 PM, February 4th, 2023
PeterB
.. EW&F brings me back to early high school, when i was a social reject for liking funk, punk, opera, freaky jazz, and other weird (to they) junk .. i learned to say Open Your &^#@ Ears! Beautiful tribute, bring warmth to this wicked cold day here in O-Town.

2:03 PM, February 4th, 2023
Chi Chi
crazy good beatz

2:05 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you for your very personal comment PeterB. I am truly honored.

2:06 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you for your comment Chi Chi!

2:07 PM, February 4th, 2023
Art Simms
This is the EARTH WIND AND FIRE I know! Thanks for spinning it!!!!!!!!

2:14 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you for the comment!

2:15 PM, February 4th, 2023
Matt Jarrett, Watertown, N.Y.
Amazing historic info!

2:37 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Wow! Thank you for the long distant comment!

2:40 PM, February 4th, 2023
robert p in gatineau
Very nice. Thank you. Love the stories that go with the recordings.

2:44 PM, February 4th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you Robert P! Always great to hear from you!

2:51 PM, February 4th, 2023
Professor Mike
Great show and I played quite a bit of Earth, Wind & Fire back in my original overnighter years

10:59 PM, February 4th, 2023
Dickson
My question is this - Are there any original Earth, Wind & Fire members left? Fun show [:<)]

11:23 AM, February 7th, 2023
Anderson Sims
Great tribute

7:18 AM, February 8th, 2023
Elorious Cain (host)
Thank you for comments people!

2:13 PM, February 8th, 2023