Earth, Wind & Fire is the kind of band that other musicians listen to and try to emulate. This 70s R&B group exhibited heaps of talent as they deftly blended pop, soul, jazz and rock for an original and unique sound.

Maurice White was the man with the vision as to what the band's style should be. He and his brother, Verdine, assembled a group of versatile players in 1969. For the next few years, Earth, Wind & Fire honed their music by mixing several styles with African beats that resulted in their hit album Head to the Sky and the equally successful single, "Mighty Mighty."

A couple years later the bad really hit the big time with the soundtrack to the film That's the Way of the World, in which they appeared as themselves. "Shining Star" was the first pop hit for the band and its parent album also reached #1. In 1976, another hit (live) album titled Gratitude showcased the ensemble's versatility in pop, soul and jazz.

Other hit singles of the late 70s included "Sing a Song," "Getaway" and "Saturday Night." A studio album, Spirit, was another pop hit, followed by All n' All, which reached the #3 spot on the charts.To top it all off, Earth, Wind & Fire embarked on a sold-out US tour that incorporated the magic of Doug Henning in the group's performances.

After a well-received Best of... album, the band scored again with I Am which juxtaposed soft ballads with kicking disco tunes. Their next success was a double album called Faces and another album, Raise. The group went on a four-year hiatus in the mid-80s, when Maurice White worked solely as a producer. Earth, Wind & Fire returned better than ever with Touch the World and the #1 hit single "System of Survival."

The band continued to tour and collaborate with other artists, notably MC Hammer and Wyclef Jean. Their album recording has taken a back seat to a robust performance career and they're still one of the most fun bands to see live.