Aruba Tourism Authority announced that the legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire will perform at the 8th Annual Aruba Musk Festival to be held October 9 & 10. Earth, Wind & Fire is simply one of the most important, innovative, and celebrated contemporary Pop/R&B music forces of the 20th century. The band has had a remarkable career spanning over four decades with accolades, awards and record-breaking achievements.
Earth, Wind & Fire's signature sound is not easily categorized and since its inception has been profoundly influential musically, socially and spiritually. The musical vision has fused Pop, R&B, Rock, Latin, Funk, Jazz and African Music into one unique sound, successfully breaking all musical genre boundaries with 23 albums, Earth, Wind & Fire has recorded eight #l R&B singles and eight Double Platinum Top I 0 Pop Albums over their career. Earth, Wind & Fire have received 20 Grammy Award nominations and have won 6 awards as a group; additionally its founding members individually (Maurice White & Philip Bailey) have each won two, totaling eight Grammy Awards. In 2004, Earth, Wind & Fire received the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (N.A.R.A.S) Signature Governor's Award.
They have earned more than 50 Gold and Platinum albums and have sold over 90 million albums worldwide earning them a place on the list of best selling music artists of all time. VH-1 ranked Earth, Wind & Fire number 60 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll. Rolling Stone Magazine declared the group "changed the sound of black pop."
President Obama invited Earth, Wind & Fire to perform in the East Room at the White House for the first social event of the new administration. Earth, Wind & Fire made international news when President Obama declared in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine that the group was among his favorites. He said they are "rhythm and blues and pop staples for me."
Earth, Wind & Fire's career achievements have been acknowledged and earned them their place in musical history. Earth, Wind & Fire have been inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2000); they have received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1995) and Hollywood’s Rockwalk (2003). That same year received the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Award (2003). The MUSIC industry and fans have bestowed Lifetime Achievement honors from ASCAP (Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award - 2002), NAACP (Hall of Fame- 1994) and the BET Awards (Life Time Achievement Award 2002). Two Earth, Wind & Fire classic songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame: "That's The Way of The World" (2004) and "Shining Star" (2007). Earth, Wind & Fire have 12 American Music Awards nominations and four awards and the group received the Entertainer Award at the 2009 TV Land Awards.
Earth, Wind & Fire are the first African-American performers to sell out Madison Square Garden and to receive the MSG Gold Ticket Award. Earth, Wind & Fire is the first African-American group to receive the Columbia Records Crystal Globe Award for selling the most albums internationally. The principals of Earth, Wind & Fire Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson have received honorary doctorate degrees from the Arts & Media College at Columbia College in Chicago. Co-Founders Philip Bailey and Maurice White have earned honorary doctorate degrees at Berkley College of Music.
The group’s Grammy Awards have exemplified Earth, Wind & Fire's relevance and the connection with contemporary R&B and Pop artists by showcasing the group twice in the 2005 and 2007 television event. The musical highlight the 2005 broadcast and Earth, Wind & Fire joining forces with Outkast, in what was the Hip Hop group's last television appearance together. In 2007, Earth, Wind & Fire performed on the Grammy's with the top nominees Ludacris and Mary J. Blige in a heartfelt poignant message to raise the social consciousness of teenage run-aways.
Many of today's contemporary Grammy Award winning music artists have named Earth, Wind & Fire as their musical influence or have announced that they are die hard fans, including: Beyonce, Usher and Prince (he thanked Earth, Wind & Fire in his induction acceptance speech at the British Hall of Fame), Alicia Keys proclaims that Earth, Wind & Fire is "the best band ever, Mary Blige has shown her appreciation to the band by re-recording one of the bands hit songs "Imagination". Miles Davis described Earth, Wind & Fire as his “all time favorite band” saying “they have everything (horns, electric guitar, singers and more) in one band" Quincy Jones has proclaimed himself to be the ‘biggest fan of Earth, Wind & Fire since day one'.
The Black Eyed Peas took the stage with Earth, Wind & Fire for a performance at the Super Bowl XXIX, and then an encore by opening the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards together. Earth, Wind & Fire songs have been covered by recording artists Jerry Garcia Band, Point of Grace, D’Angelo, Lenny White, Patti LaBelle, The Manhattans, Wynonna Judd, Yoland Adams, Incognito, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, the Vienna Boss choir, Herb Albert, Musiq and Tito Puente.
Their songs have also been sampled by numerous artists some of which include: A Tribe Called Quest, Wyclef Jean, Jay-Z, Amerie, The Fugees, LL Cool J, De La Soul, Common, Quenn Pen, Naughty by Nature, P. Diddy, The Roots, Will Smith, Cee-lo, Me Lyte and Lisa left Eye Lopes.
Music artist who name Earth, Wind & Fire as a major influence or inspiration include Usher, will.i.am, Mary J Bilge. Cherish, Prince, Pharrell Williams, The Neptunes, Jon Secada, Wyclef Jean, Common, Phil Collins, Boney James, Angie Stone, The All American Rejects, Jesse McCartney, Mint Condition, Solange, Babyface, Outkast, Jamiroquai, Marcus Miller, Omarion, Eric Benet, Sheila E., Erykah Badu, Jamie Foxx, Fall Out Boys, Meshell Ndegeocello, Wynton Marsalis and Mario.
In keeping with the group’s spiritual legacy the very principals of which the group as founded and derived its name from, Earth, Wind & Fire has stood for and profoundly believes in the circle of returning the benefits of success by giving back through supporting the continuation of raising funds and the consciousness of important social issues. The Inaugural 2005 Grammy Jam charity event honored Earth, Wind & Fire. The benefit event that was support by Steve Wonder, will.i.am, Indie Arie, Usher and Kanye West performing classic Earth, Wind and Fire hit songs. Fans in the audience, including: Prince, were mesmerized. Proceeds from the evening went to many non-profit organizations: The GRAMMY Foundation, California State Summer School for the Arts, the Los Angeles Chapter Scholarship Program, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and For The Arts. The group's founders have instituted charitable programs that have a direct endowment to local and national music and arts initiatives. Philip Bailey started the organization called Music is Unity Foundation and Verdine White introduced Wright Life Arts Center for the Youth. Earth, Wind & Fire appeared and performed on the first American Idol Gives back special The program raised money and awareness with the effect on poverty on children and young people in the US and Africa.
Earth, Wind & Fire remains to this day a top musical phenomenon with a catalog of mega hits spanning over forty years. Their influences have changed the course of music and perhaps the spiritual consciousness around the world.
