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102-456: Earth, Wind & Fire (abbreviated as EW&F or EWF ) is an American band formed in Chicago , Illinois in 1969. Their music spans multiple genres, including jazz , R&B , soul , funk , disco , pop , Latin and Afro-pop . They are among the best-selling bands of all time , with sales of over 90 million records worldwide. The band was formed by Maurice White , originating out of

204-547: A BET Lifetime Achievement Award , a Soul Train Legend Award , a NARAS Signature Governor's Award, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award , the 2012 Congressional Horizon Award , and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2019. Rolling Stone has called them "innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing" and declared that the band "changed the sound of black pop". VH1 has described EWF as "one of

306-851: A Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals . The album's second single was title track " That's the Way of the World ". It reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 12 on the Hot 100 chart. With the album's success the band was able to hire their own horn section , dubbed the Phenix Horns . They were composed of saxophonist Don Myrick , trombonist Louis Satterfield , and trumpeters Rahmlee Davis and Michael Harris . Myrick and Satterfield had both previously worked with White during his days as

408-403: A Democrat, was elected in 1955, in the era of machine politics . In 1956, the city conducted its last major expansion when it annexed the land under O'Hare airport, including a small portion of DuPage County. By the 1960s, white residents in several neighborhoods left the city for the suburban areas – in many American cities, a process known as white flight – as Blacks continued to move beyond

510-472: A Grammy in the category of Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) . The film's soundtrack was also certified US platinum. In 1978, White established a subsidiary label of CBS titled The American Record Company (ARC) . Soon afterwards he launched, alongside sound engineer George Massenburg , a new recording studio dubbed The Complex in West Los Angeles. In November 1978, EWF issued

612-584: A compilation album entitled The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 on ARC/Columbia. It rose to No. 3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. The New York Daily News claimed "this record is a well-paced showcase." Crispin Cioe of High Fidelity wrote "For pop/r&b mavens, this one's a must." The album was certified quintuple platinum in

714-636: A febrile jazz‐rock direction." Monroe Anderson of the Chicago Tribune called the album as a "rare blend of poetry, passion and artistic progression." All 'n All won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus . The album was certified US triple platinum. " Serpentine Fire " rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. " Fantasy " reached No. 12 on

816-601: A fresh sound that sets it apart from many of the ho-hum aggregations around today. The album consists of eight moving tunes". Hip Hop artist Nas was also inspired by the album's cover art while British singer Gabrielle also named Last Days and Time as one of her favorites. A single called "Mom" got to No. 39 on the Cashbox Top R&;B Singles chart. Soon thereafter, Roland Bautista and Ronnie Laws left. Denver native Philip Bailey recommended his former East High School classmate, saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk , as

918-495: A heart attack soon after. Washington was succeeded by 6th ward alderperson Eugene Sawyer , who was elected by the Chicago City Council and served until a special election. Richard M. Daley , son of Richard J. Daley, was elected in 1989. His accomplishments included improvements to parks and creating incentives for sustainable development , as well as closing Meigs Field in the middle of the night and destroying

1020-536: A label?". EWF went on to supply the entire soundtrack of the Melvin Van Peebles feature film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song . The soundtrack, composed by Van Peebles, was released in April 1971 on Stax Records . Ian McCann of udiscovermusic.com found "Today, though, you couldn't find a record, soundtrack, or otherwise, as freewheelin' and funky as this." Jamie Atkins of Record Collector also found

1122-665: A model for the new field of social work . During the 1870s and 1880s, Chicago attained national stature as the leader in the movement to improve public health. City laws and later, state laws that upgraded standards for the medical profession and fought urban epidemics of cholera , smallpox , and yellow fever were both passed and enforced. These laws became templates for public health reform in other cities and states. The city established many large, well-landscaped municipal parks , which also included public sanitation facilities. The chief advocate for improving public health in Chicago

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1224-479: A new grade with the use of jackscrews for raising buildings. While elevating Chicago, and at first improving the city's health, the untreated sewage and industrial waste now flowed into the Chicago River , and subsequently into Lake Michigan , polluting the city's primary freshwater source. The city responded by tunneling two miles (3.2 km) out into Lake Michigan to newly built water cribs . In 1900,

1326-559: A replacement for Laws. Woolfolk had been busy in New York studying sax with sax maestro Joe Henderson and was due to start a career in banking at the time. To fill the void created by Bautista's departure, rhythm guitarists Al McKay and Johnny Graham were added. Graham previously played with New Birth , while McKay was a former member of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue and The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band . EWF's fourth studio album, Head to

1428-545: A session drummer at Chess Records. After their first European tour, EWF returned to the studio in June 1975. The band eventually came away with an album of mostly live concert material together with some new tracks. As a double LP Gratitude was issued in November 1975. It rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts respectively. Kit Aiken of Uncut called Gratitude "a kicking live album". Greg Kot of

1530-479: Is inhabited by spiritual Jīvas called apakāya ekendriya . Water and the other Greek classical elements were incorporated into the Golden Dawn system. The elemental weapon of water is the cup. Each of the elements has several associated spiritual beings. The archangel of water is Gabriel , the angel is Taliahad, the ruler is Tharsis, the king is Nichsa and the water elementals are called Ondines . It

1632-407: Is known to botanists as Allium tricoccum and known more commonly as "ramps". The first known reference to the site of the current city of Chicago as " Checagou " was by Robert de LaSalle around 1679 in a memoir. Henri Joutel , in his journal of 1688, noted that the eponymous wild "garlic" grew profusely in the area. According to his diary of late September 1687: ... when we arrived at

1734-487: Is made of tiny little balls. Plato's student Aristotle (384–322 BC) developed a different explanation for the elements based on pairs of qualities. The four elements were arranged concentrically around the center of the Universe to form the sublunary sphere . According to Aristotle, water is both cold and wet and occupies a place between air and earth among the elemental spheres. In ancient Greek medicine , each of

1836-554: Is routinely ranked among the world's top six busiest airports by passenger traffic , and the region is also the nation's railroad hub. The Chicago area has one of the highest gross domestic products (GDP) of any urban region in the world, generating $ 689 billion in 2018. Chicago's economy is diverse , with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce. Chicago is a major destination for tourism , including visitors to its cultural institutions , and Lake Michigan beaches . Chicago's culture has contributed much to

1938-646: The Billboard Dance Club Songs and UK Pop Singles charts, respectively. The track "Earth, Wind and Fire" was Grammy nominated for Best Instrumental Composition . During this period, EWF concerts became loaded with pyrotechnics, magic, laser lights, flying pyramids, levitating guitarists and elaborate production tricks that included the entire group ascending in a pyramid and a disappearing act. Stage magician Doug Henning appeared on many of their tours with his assistant and eventual successor, David Copperfield . George Faison began choreographing

2040-522: The Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart. "Fantasy" was Grammy-nominated for Best R&B Song . "Runnin" won a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental . Thereafter the band performed a medley on a musical special hosted by Natalie Cole which aired in April 1978 on CBS . EWF later appeared in the July 1978 feature film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band , which

2142-531: The Billboard 200 chart. Open Our Eyes was certified US Platinum. A single from the LP called " Mighty Mighty " reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. " Kalimba Story " rose to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. " Devotion " got to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. After Open Our Eyes

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2244-479: The Black Belt . While home loan discriminatory redlining against blacks continued, the real estate industry practiced what became known as blockbusting , completely changing the racial composition of whole neighborhoods. Structural changes in industry, such as globalization and job outsourcing, caused heavy job losses for lower-skilled workers. At its peak during the 1960s, some 250,000 workers were employed in

2346-719: The Calumet River in the industrial far South Side—flow either entirely or partially through the city. Chicago's history and economy are closely tied to its proximity to Lake Michigan. While the Chicago River historically handled much of the region's waterborne cargo, today's huge lake freighters use the city's Lake Calumet Harbor on the South Side. The lake also provides another positive effect: moderating Chicago's climate, making waterfront neighborhoods slightly warmer in winter and cooler in summer. When Chicago

2448-562: The Chicago School , the development of the City Beautiful movement , and the steel-framed skyscraper . Chicago is an international hub for finance, culture , commerce, industry, education, technology, telecommunications, and transportation . It has the largest and most diverse finance derivatives market in the world, generating 20% of all volume in commodities and financial futures alone. O'Hare International Airport

2550-587: The Chicago Tribune found "an Ellingtonian fusion of styles on this live masterpiece." The album was certified US triple platinum. With the LP came " Sing a Song ", which rose to numbers 1 and 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts, respectively. " Can't Hide Love " got to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. "Can't Hide Love" was Grammy nominated for Best Arrangement For Voices . The album's title track

2652-555: The Evening Standard scribed "On I Am..the band's flashy staccato rhythms, their smooth melodies and precise production adds up to another majestic album". " Boogie Wonderland ", featuring the Emotions , got to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also Grammy nominated in the categories of Best Disco Recording and Best R&B Instrumental Performance . " After

2754-599: The Great Lakes to connect to the Mississippi River. A flourishing economy brought residents from rural communities and immigrants from abroad. Manufacturing and retail and finance sectors became dominant, influencing the American economy . The Chicago Board of Trade (established 1848) listed the first-ever standardized "exchange-traded" forward contracts, which were called futures contracts . In

2856-542: The Jefferson Township , which now makes up most of Chicago's Northwest Side . The desire to join the city was driven by municipal services that the city could provide its residents. Chicago's flourishing economy attracted huge numbers of new immigrants from Europe and migrants from the Eastern United States . Of the total population in 1900, more than 77% were either foreign-born or born in

2958-511: The Miami , Sauk and Meskwaki peoples in this region. The first known permanent settler in Chicago was trader Jean Baptiste Point du Sable . Du Sable was of African descent, perhaps born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti), and established the settlement in the 1780s. He is commonly known as the "Founder of Chicago." In 1795, following the victory of the new United States in

3060-655: The New Negro Movement , in art, literature, and music. Continuing racial tensions and violence, such as the Chicago race riot of 1919 , also occurred. The ratification of the 18th amendment to the Constitution in 1919 made the production and sale (including exportation) of alcoholic beverages illegal in the United States. This ushered in the beginning of what is known as the gangster era, a time that roughly spans from 1919 until 1933 when Prohibition

3162-836: The Northwest Indian War , an area that was to be part of Chicago was turned over to the U.S. for a military post by native tribes in accordance with the Treaty of Greenville . In 1803, the U.S. Army constructed Fort Dearborn , which was destroyed during the War of 1812 in the Battle of Fort Dearborn by the Potawatomi before being later rebuilt. After the War of 1812, the Ottawa , Ojibwe , and Potawatomi tribes ceded additional land to

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3264-469: The University of Chicago , Northwestern University , and the University of Illinois Chicago , among other institutions of learning . Professional sports in Chicago include all major professional leagues , including two Major League Baseball teams. The name Chicago is derived from a French rendering of the indigenous Miami–Illinois word shikaakwa for a wild relative of the onion ; it

3366-698: The Washington and Jackson Parks. During World War I and the 1920s there was a major expansion in industry. The availability of jobs attracted African Americans from the Southern United States . Between 1910 and 1930, the African American population of Chicago increased dramatically, from 44,103 to 233,903. This Great Migration had an immense cultural impact, called the Chicago Black Renaissance , part of

3468-602: The flute and saxophone, rhythm guitarist Roland Bautista , keyboardist Larry Dunn , vocalist Philip Bailey and percussionist Ralph Johnson . Davis was soon replaced by Jessica Cleaves , a former member of the R&;B group The Friends of Distinction . The band successfully auditioned for managers Bob Cavallo and Joe Ruffalo. Cavallo's management of John Sebastian led to a series of gigs as his opening act. A performance at New York's Rockefeller Center introduced EWF to Clive Davis , then-President of Columbia Records . Davis

3570-430: The four humours became associated with an element. Phlegm was the humor identified with water, since both were cold and wet. Other things associated with water and phlegm in ancient and medieval medicine included the season of Winter, since it increased the qualities of cold and moisture, the phlegmatic temperament, the feminine and the western point of the compass. In alchemy , the chemical element of mercury

3672-555: The most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States . With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 census , it is the third-most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles . As the seat of Cook County , the second-most populous county in the U.S., Chicago is the center of the Chicago metropolitan area , often colloquially called "Chicagoland" and home to 9.6 million residents. Located on

3774-494: The 1800s, Chicago became the nation's railroad hub, and by 1910 over 20 railroads operated passenger service out of six different downtown terminals. In 1883, Chicago's railway managers needed a general time convention, so they developed the standardized system of North American time zones . This system for telling time spread throughout the continent. In 1893, Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition on former marshland at

3876-477: The 1850s, Chicago gained national political prominence as the home of Senator Stephen Douglas , the champion of the Kansas–Nebraska Act and the "popular sovereignty" approach to the issue of the spread of slavery. These issues also helped propel another Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln , to the national stage. Lincoln was nominated in Chicago for U.S. president at the 1860 Republican National Convention , which

3978-705: The 57th mayor of Chicago. Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois on the southwestern shores of freshwater Lake Michigan. It is the principal city in the Chicago Metropolitan Area , situated in both the Midwestern United States and the Great Lakes region . The city rests on a continental divide at the site of the Chicago Portage, connecting the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes watersheds . In addition to it lying beside Lake Michigan, two rivers—the Chicago River in downtown and

4080-455: The Chicago River were devastated; by 1933 over 50% of industrial jobs in the city had been lost, and unemployment rates amongst blacks and Mexicans in the city were over 40%. The Republican political machine in Chicago was utterly destroyed by the economic crisis, and every mayor since 1931 has been a Democrat . From 1928 to 1933, the city witnessed a tax revolt, and the city was unable to meet payroll or provide relief efforts. The fiscal crisis

4182-688: The Dells , Terry Callier and Minnie Riperton and the Rotary Connection , of which Riperton was a member. Stepney's writing and production style included a more ornate, orchestral flourish, which influenced the soundtrack album. That's the Way of the World was eventually issued in March 1975 by Columbia. The album rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top Soul Albums charts. Stephen Curwood of The Boston Globe called

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4284-449: The LP "a sound you shouldn't miss." Daryl Easlea of the BBC described That's the Way of the World as a "soul masterpiece". The album was certified US triple platinum. From the LP came the single " Shining Star ", which rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts. This made EWF the first black act to top both the Billboard album and singles charts. The song won

4386-603: The LP titled " Evil " got to No. 19 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs and No. 25 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs charts respectively. Another single called " Keep Your Head to the Sky " rose to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. Jessica Cleaves left after the album release. The band's follow-up album was co-produced by Maurice and Wissert. This LP was recorded at James William Guercio 's Caribou Ranch Studio and Open Our Eyes

4488-634: The Love Has Gone " reached No. 2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Songs charts. The song made No. 3 on both the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs and UK Pop Singles charts. The ballad was Grammy-nominated in the category of Record of the Year . "After the Love Has Gone" won a Grammy for the Best R&;B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group . Chicago Chicago is

4590-522: The Midwest titled "La La Time". The Salty Peppers' second single, "Uh Huh Yeah", did not fare as well. Maurice moved from Chicago to Los Angeles. He added singer Sherry Scott and percussionist Yackov Ben Israel, both from Chicago, to the band. He asked his younger brother Verdine to join and on June 6, 1970, Verdine moved from Chicago to LA to become the band's bassist. Maurice began shopping demo tapes featuring Donny Hathaway to various record labels and

4692-535: The Mississippi River. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed an area about 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 1-mile (1.6 km) wide, a large section of the city at the time. Much of the city, including railroads and stockyards , survived intact, and from the ruins of the previous wooden structures arose more modern constructions of steel and stone. These set a precedent for worldwide construction. During its rebuilding period, Chicago constructed

4794-483: The Salty Peppers ; its history includes a hiatus from mid-1984 to mid-1987. Prominent members have included Verdine White , Philip Bailey , Ralph Johnson , Larry Dunn , Al McKay , Roland Bautista , Robert Brookins , Sonny Emory , Freddie Ravel , Ronnie Laws , Sheldon Reynolds and Andrew Woolfolk . The band is known for its kalimba sound, dynamic horn section , energetic and elaborate stage shows, and

4896-552: The Sky , was released in May 1973. The album rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 27 on the Billboard 200 chart. Head to the Sky was certified US Platinum by the RIAA . Vince Aletti of Rolling Stone declared "Been having a lot of music dreams lately but this one's not too surprising since I've been playing the Earth, Wind & Fire album pretty constantly for

4998-578: The South arrived in the city to work in the steel mills, railroads, and shipping yards. On December 2, 1942, physicist Enrico Fermi conducted the world's first controlled nuclear reaction at the University of Chicago as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project . This led to the creation of the atomic bomb by the United States, which it used in World War II in 1945. Mayor Richard J. Daley ,

5100-696: The US by the RIAA. A new song called " September " was released as a single, peaking to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. "September" also reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. In January 1979, the band performed "September" and "That's the Way of the World" at the Music for UNICEF Concert . The concert was broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly . Other artists who performed at

5202-624: The United States in the 1816 Treaty of St. Louis . The Potawatomi were forcibly removed from their land after the 1833 Treaty of Chicago and sent west of the Mississippi River as part of the federal policy of Indian removal . On August 12, 1833, the Town of Chicago was organized with a population of about 200. Within seven years it grew to more than 6,000 people. On June 15, 1835, the first public land sales began with Edmund Dick Taylor as Receiver of Public Monies. The City of Chicago

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5304-787: The United States of foreign parentage. Germans , Irish , Poles , Swedes , and Czechs made up nearly two-thirds of the foreign-born population (by 1900, whites were 98.1% of the city's population). Labor conflicts followed the industrial boom and the rapid expansion of the labor pool, including the Haymarket affair on May 4, 1886, and in 1894 the Pullman Strike . Anarchist and socialist groups played prominent roles in creating very large and highly organized labor actions. Concern for social problems among Chicago's immigrant poor led Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr to found Hull House in 1889. Programs that were developed there became

5406-419: The band eventually signed to Warner Bros. Records . Maurice White's astrological sign , Sagittarius , has a primary elemental quality of fire and seasonal qualities of earth and air , according to classical triplicities . Sagittarius in the northern hemisphere occurs in the autumn, whose element is earth, and in the southern hemisphere, it is spring, whose element is air. Hence the omission of water ,

5508-634: The band's new LP, Spirit , which was issued in October 1976. The album's title paid tribute to Stepney. The LP rose to No. 2 on both the Billboard Top Pop Albums and Top Soul Albums charts. Music Week commented "With a more spiritual, ethereal feel than the six albums they had already cut to that point, it really marks a turning point in their career and is crammed with excellent tunes." John Abbey of Blues & Soul described Spirit as "a mighty, mighty album" which shows "the power of

5610-487: The band's producer. The band's self-titled debut album was released in March 1971 on Warner Bros. The album got to No. 24 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and was certified Gold in France by the SNEP . Lester Bangs of Rolling Stone noted a "heavy Sly influence" and the "smooth harmonies" of The Fifth Dimension on the LP. Bob Talbert of the Detroit Free Press also wrote "I'm not sure what to call this group. Afro-gospel-jazz-blues-rock? Must there be

5712-459: The band's signature Phenix Horns and most of the other band members and put these and others Kalimba artists on tour with EWF. While co-producing and arranging EWF's follow-up LP, Williams's debut album, This Is Niecy , Ramsey Lewis's Salongo , and the Emotions' Flowers , their first album on Columbia Records , Charles Stepney died of a heart attack on May 17, 1976, in Chicago at the age of 45. With Stepney's death, White went on to produce

5814-412: The city include the central business district, called the Loop , and the North, South , and West Sides . The three sides of the city are represented on the Flag of Chicago by three horizontal white stripes. The North Side is the most-densely-populated residential section of the city, and many high-rises are located on this side of the city along the lakefront. The South Side is the largest section of

5916-408: The city was affected by a series of tenant rent strikes , which lead to the formation of the Chicago Tenants Protective association, passage of the Kessenger tenant laws, and of a heat ordinance that legally required flats to be kept above 68 °F during winter months by landlords. Chicago was the first American city to have a homosexual-rights organization. The organization, formed in 1924,

6018-415: The city's first African American woman mayor and its first openly LGBTQ mayor, was elected to succeed Emanuel as mayor in 2019. All three city-wide elective offices were held by women (and women of color) for the first time in Chicago history: in addition to Lightfoot, the city clerk was Anna Valencia and the city treasurer was Melissa Conyears-Ervin . On May 15, 2023, Brandon Johnson assumed office as

6120-424: The city's first female mayor, was elected. She was notable for temporarily moving into the crime-ridden Cabrini-Green housing project and for leading Chicago's school system out of a financial crisis. In 1983, Harold Washington became the first black mayor of Chicago. Washington's first term in office directed attention to poor and previously neglected minority neighborhoods. He was re‑elected in 1987 but died of

6222-443: The city, encompassing roughly 60% of the city's land area. The South Side contains most of the facilities of the Port of Chicago . Water (classical element) Water was one of many archai proposed by the Pre-socratics, most of whom tried to reduce all things to a single substance. However, Empedocles of Acragas (c. 495 – c. 435 BC) selected four archai for his four roots: air, fire, water and earth. Empedocles roots became

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6324-471: The contrast between Bailey's falsetto and Maurice's tenor vocals. The band has won six Grammy Awards out of 17 nominations and four American Music Awards out of 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 earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . The band has also received an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award,

6426-407: The convention hall, with anti-war protesters, journalists and bystanders being beaten by police. Major construction projects, including the Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower , which in 1974 became the world's tallest building ), University of Illinois at Chicago , McCormick Place , and O'Hare International Airport , were undertaken during Richard J. Daley's tenure. In 1979, Jane Byrne ,

6528-432: The district and forcing a shutdown of electrical power. The area was shut down for three days and some buildings did not reopen for weeks; losses were estimated at $ 1.95 billion. On February 23, 2011, Rahm Emanuel , a former White House Chief of Staff and member of the House of Representatives , won the mayoral election. Emanuel was sworn in as mayor on May 16, 2011, and won re-election in 2015. Lori Lightfoot ,

6630-467: The elements of Earth, Wind and Fire aren't new, this mixture of them is a unique sound". A single from the album called " I Think About Lovin' You " reached No. 44 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. The band became popular on college campuses, although some members started to become restless and the band eventually split. With only Verdine left, Maurice decided to re-form the group. During 1972, Maurice added vocalist Helena Davis, Ronnie Laws on

6732-515: The event were ABBA , Andy Gibb , the Bee Gees , Olivia Newton-John , Donna Summer and Rod Stewart . The concert was Emmy -nominated in the category of Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Class. During June 1979, EWF issued their ninth studio album, I Am . The LP rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. I Am was certified US double platinum. Eric Sieger of The Baltimore Sun called I Am "faultlessly produced." James Johnson of

6834-416: The fair was technological innovation over the century since Chicago's founding. During World War II , the city of Chicago alone produced more steel than the United Kingdom every year from 1939 – 1945, and more than Nazi Germany from 1943 – 1945. The Great Migration, which had been on pause due to the Depression, resumed at an even faster pace in the second wave , as hundreds of thousands of blacks from

6936-441: The four classical elements of Greek philosophy. Plato (427–347 BC) took over the four elements of Empedocles. In the Timaeus , his major cosmological dialogue, the Platonic solid associated with water is the icosahedron which is formed from twenty equilateral triangles. This makes water the element with the greatest number of sides, which Plato regarded as appropriate because water flows out of one's hand when picked up, as if it

7038-418: The fourth classical element . Based on this, he changed the band's name, to Earth, Wind & Fire. White held further auditions in L.A, adding Michael Beal on guitar, Chester Washington on reeds , and Leslie Drayton on trumpet. White was a percussionist and lead vocalist. Drayton served as the group's arranger. Trombonist Alex Thomas completed the then ten-man lineup. Warner Bros. designated Joe Wissert to be

7140-420: The greatest bands". In 1969, Maurice White, a former session drummer for Chess Records and former member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio , joined two friends in Chicago, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, as a songwriting team. They wrote songs and commercials in the Chicago area. The three friends got a recording contract with Capitol Records . Calling themselves The Salty Peppers, they had a marginal hit single in

7242-451: The lowest points are along the lake shore at 578 ft (176.2 m), while the highest point, at 672 ft (205 m), is the morainal ridge of Blue Island in the city's far south side. Lake Shore Drive runs adjacent to a large portion of Chicago's waterfront. Some of the parks along the waterfront include Lincoln Park , Grant Park , Burnham Park , and Jackson Park . There are 24 public beaches across 26 miles (42 km) of

7344-406: The nine-piece Earth Wind & Fire conglomeration." Spirit was certified US double platinum . " Getaway " reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. The song also rose to No. 12 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Dance Club Play charts. " Saturday Nite " reached numbers 4 and 21 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts, respectively. "Saturday Nite" rose to No. 12 on both

7446-507: The past week, certainly beyond all expectations". Aletti also noted EWF "sound like a cosmic choir and generate a Sly Stone effect" on the album. Tony Palermo of the Pittsburgh Press wrote "Folks like to compare this bunch with War , but the first difference that hits you with E,W&F's brand of jazz-rhythm and blues is the smoothness of Jessica Cleaves ' vocal work. Then, the extra slug of R&B in their style". A single off

7548-506: The present location of Jackson Park . The Exposition drew 27.5 million visitors, and is considered the most influential world's fair in history. The University of Chicago , formerly at another location, moved to the same South Side location in 1892. The term "midway" for a fair or carnival referred originally to the Midway Plaisance , a strip of park land that still runs through the University of Chicago campus and connects

7650-613: The problem of sewage contamination was largely resolved when the city completed a major engineering feat. It reversed the flow of the Chicago River so that the water flowed away from Lake Michigan rather than into it. This project began with the construction and improvement of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and was completed with the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal that connects to the Illinois River , which flows into

7752-495: The role of a record producer who hears "The Group" performing and is wowed by their act. When the band saw the film they were convinced that it would become a box office bomb , which it eventually was. They therefore released the film's soundtrack before the film's premiere. The LP was produced by White and Charles Stepney and recorded at the Caribou Ranch Studio. Stepney had previously worked with artists such as

7854-593: The runways. After successfully running for re-election five times, and becoming Chicago's longest-serving mayor, Richard M. Daley declined to run for a seventh term. In 1992, a construction accident near the Kinzie Street Bridge produced a breach connecting the Chicago River to a tunnel below, which was part of an abandoned freight tunnel system extending throughout the downtown Loop district. The tunnels filled with 250 million US gallons (1,000,000 m ) of water, affecting buildings throughout

7956-615: The said place called "Chicagou" which, according to what we were able to learn of it, has taken this name because of the quantity of garlic which grows in the forests in this region. The city has had several nicknames throughout its history, such as the Windy City , Chi-Town, Second City, and City of the Big Shoulders. In the mid-18th century, the area was inhabited by the Potawatomi , an indigenous tribe who had succeeded

8058-494: The shore of Lake Michigan , Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837 near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed . It grew rapidly in the mid-19th century. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed several square miles and left more than 100,000 homeless, but Chicago's population continued to grow. Chicago made noted contributions to urban planning and architecture , such as

8160-484: The shows. In November 1977, EWF released All 'n All , their eighth studio album. It was inspired by Maurice's month-long trip through Argentina and Brazil . The album rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. John Rockwell of The New York Times declared " All 'n All shows Maurice White and his cohorts pushing their music ever more in

8262-861: The soundtrack is "Well worth checking out." The album reached No. 13 on the Billboard Top R&;B Albums chart. In November 1971, EWF's second album, titled The Need of Love , was issued. The LP got to No. 35 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. Bruce Lindsay of Jazz Journal said "as evidence of a tight, stylish, band in the early stages of its career this is a worthwhile album". Al Rudis of The Chicago Sun-Times wrote "Their second album, The Need of Love again displays some unusual music that might be called avant garde were it not so melodic and entrancing. The nine-member group mixes excellent jazzy instrumentals with harmony singing and chanting, some big band sounds and some free-form parts as well as solid soul beats. It all works beautifully, and while

8364-587: The steel industry in Chicago, but the steel crisis of the 1970s and 1980s reduced this number to just 28,000 in 2015. In 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Raby led the Chicago Freedom Movement , which culminated in agreements between Mayor Richard J. Daley and the movement leaders. Two years later, the city hosted the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention , which featured physical confrontations both inside and outside

8466-519: The term refers to water as an element, one of the Panchamahabhuta , or "five great elements". In Hinduism , it is also the name of the deva , a personification of water, (one of the Vasus in most later Puranic lists). The element water is also associated with Chandra or the moon and Shukra , who represent feelings, intuition and imagination. According to Jain tradition, water itself

8568-562: The unemployed. In the spring of 1937 Republic Steel Works witnessed the Memorial Day massacre of 1937 in the neighborhood of East Side. In 1933, Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was fatally wounded in Miami, Florida , during a failed assassination attempt on President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt . In 1933 and 1934, the city celebrated its centennial by hosting the Century of Progress International Exposition World's Fair . The theme of

8670-649: The visual arts, literature , film, theater , comedy (especially improvisational comedy ), food , dance, and music (particularly jazz , blues , soul , hip-hop , gospel , and electronic dance music , including house music ). Chicago is home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of Chicago , while the Art Institute of Chicago provides an influential visual arts museum and art school . The Chicago area also hosts

8772-664: The waterfront. Landfill extends into portions of the lake providing space for Navy Pier , Northerly Island , the Museum Campus , and large portions of the McCormick Place Convention Center. Most of the city's high-rise commercial and residential buildings are close to the waterfront. An informal name for the entire Chicago metropolitan area is "Chicagoland", which generally means the city and all its suburbs, though different organizations have slightly different definitions. Major sections of

8874-539: The world's first skyscraper in 1885, using steel-skeleton construction. The city grew significantly in size and population by incorporating many neighboring townships between 1851 and 1920, with the largest annexation happening in 1889, with five townships joining the city, including the Hyde Park Township , which now comprises most of the South Side of Chicago and the far southeast of Chicago, and

8976-431: Was John H. Rauch, M.D. Rauch established a plan for Chicago's park system in 1866. He created Lincoln Park by closing a cemetery filled with shallow graves, and in 1867, in response to an outbreak of cholera he helped establish a new Chicago Board of Health. Ten years later, he became the secretary and then the president of the first Illinois State Board of Health, which carried out most of its activities in Chicago. In

9078-402: Was also nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals . During 1975, White established a production company called Kalimba Productions. He signed artists such as his former bandleader Ramsey Lewis; singer Deniece Williams , who had once been a member of Stevie Wonder 's "Wonderlove" backup group; and girl group the Emotions . Maurice loaned

9180-618: Was an eventual commercial failure . During the film EWF's rendered a cover of the Beatles ' " Got to Get You into My Life ". This tune was the biggest hit single from the movie's soundtrack , reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard R&;B songs chart and No. 9 on the US Billboard Pop singles chart. "Got to Get You into My Life" earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus and won

9282-472: Was called the Society for Human Rights . It produced the first American publication for homosexuals, Friendship and Freedom . Police and political pressure caused the organization to disband. The Great Depression brought unprecedented suffering to Chicago, in no small part due to the city's heavy reliance on heavy industry. Notably, industrial areas on the south side and neighborhoods lining both branches of

9384-407: Was certified US Gold. During 1975, EWF was approached by Sig Shore , producer of the motion picture Super Fly , to record the soundtrack to a new film titled That's the Way of the World . With a screenplay from Robert Lipsyte , the film was produced and directed by Shore. The film starred Harvey Keitel , Ed Nelson , EWF as "The Group" and Maurice as Early, "The Group"'s leader. Keitel played

9486-462: Was founded in 1837, most of the early building was around the mouth of the Chicago River, as can be seen on a map of the city's original 58 blocks. The overall grade of the city's central, built-up areas is relatively consistent with the natural flatness of its overall natural geography, generally exhibiting only slight differentiation otherwise. The average land elevation is 579 ft (176.5 m) above sea level . While measurements vary somewhat,

9588-578: Was held in a purpose-built auditorium called the Wigwam . He defeated Douglas in the general election, and this set the stage for the American Civil War . To accommodate rapid population growth and demand for better sanitation, the city improved its infrastructure. In February 1856, Chicago's Common Council approved Chesbrough 's plan to build the United States' first comprehensive sewerage system. The project raised much of central Chicago to

9690-686: Was impressed and bought their contract from Warner Bros. Wissert went along with the band. Their debut album on CBS/Columbia Records, Last Days and Time , was issued in October 1972. The album got to No. 15 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 9 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart. Paul Sexton of Record Mirror proclaimed "Musical historians and EWF fans alike will welcome ( Last Days and Time)" . Ovid Goode Jr. of The Los Angeles Daily News declared " Last Days and Time , sprouts forth with

9792-533: Was incorporated on Saturday, March 4, 1837, and for several decades was the world's fastest-growing city. As the site of the Chicago Portage , the city became an important transportation hub between the eastern and western United States. Chicago's first railway, Galena and Chicago Union Railroad , and the Illinois and Michigan Canal opened in 1848. The canal allowed steamboats and sailing ships on

9894-542: Was issued, Maurice's younger brother, Fred White , joined the band. He had previously played in Chicago clubs as a drummer with Donny Hathaway and Little Feat . On April 6, 1974, EWF performed at the California Jam , a West Coast rock festival that attracted an audience of 200,000. The concert was televised in the US on May 10, 1974, by ABC . In September 1974, a compilation double album titled Another Time , comprising songs from EWF's first two studio albums,

9996-531: Was often associated with water and its alchemical symbol was a downward-pointing triangle. slave Ap ( áp- ) is the Vedic Sanskrit term for water, in Classical Sanskrit occurring only in the plural is not an element.v, āpas (sometimes re-analysed as a thematic singular, āpa- ), whence Hindi āp . The term is from PIE h x ap water. In Hindu philosophy ,

10098-436: Was released by Warner Bros. The album got to No. 29 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. The band collaborated with Ramsey Lewis on his album Sun Goddess , which was produced by Maurice and issued in late 1974 by Columbia. The album got to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart. The LP's title track rose to No. 20 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. Sun Goddess

10200-466: Was released in March 1974. Ken Emerson of Rolling Stone called Open Our Eyes "a pleasant miscellany of Africana, Latin rhythms, well-mannered funk, smooth jazz, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder and the Fifth Dimension ". The Village Voice ' s Robert Christgau described the album as a complete "tour de force". The album rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 15 on

10302-461: Was repealed. The 1920s saw gangsters , including Al Capone , Dion O'Banion , Bugs Moran and Tony Accardo battle law enforcement and each other on the streets of Chicago during the Prohibition era . Chicago was the location of the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929, when Al Capone sent men to gun down members of a rival gang, North Side, led by Bugs Moran. From 1920 to 1921,

10404-477: Was resolved by 1933, and at the same time, federal relief funding began to flow into Chicago. Chicago was also a hotbed of labor activism, with Unemployed Councils contributing heavily in the early depression to create solidarity for the poor and demand relief; these organizations were created by socialist and communist groups. By 1935 the Workers Alliance of America begun organizing the poor, workers,

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