A personal tribute by DJ Marcia Carr
With the full line up intact as the original Earth, Wind & Fire, to see them on stage at Wembley Arena in 1990 was mesmerising and overwhelming for me as a concert goer. It was only in video (who remembers VHS?) that I had seen their ‘magic’ happen. For it to come to life right before my eyes was an experience, I had never seen anything like that kind of stage performance before. What this Los Angeles based collective had hit us the audience with was immensely dramatic, space age, theatrical; a well choreographed full on show – a concert I’ll not ever forget.
Most people are more familiar with Maurice White’s singing voice for songs such as September, After The Love Has Gone, Fantasy, Sing A Song, Reasons, Boogie Wonderland amid the band’s many chart successes – they have more than 90 million album sales worldwide to date.
Along with Verdine his brother, and co-producer Philip Bailey who is also an established recording artist in his own right, it was Maurice White who was the founder of this super group of funk, soul and cosmic jazz infused sounds – heard in the earlier work of the group formed in 1969 when the Memphis native settled in LA after relocating from a fruitful musical career working with numerous jazz and r & b/soul acts in Chicago .
It was back in 1992 that I had the good fortune myself to meet Maurice (and his bassist brother Verdine and vocalist songwriter Philip Bailey) in London. I vaguely remember him as a modestly quiet, unassuming and humble character, he was quite witty too. I’m saddened by the news of the loss of a great and influential man whom I consider a huge inspiring contributor to the evolving time line that is a rich pedigree in the goldmine that is black music.
Earth Wind & Fire have continued performing in recent years such is the demand for one of America’s best musical exports – they have released material without live appearance of Maurice at the shows. He did remain an active bandleader, a clearly gifted songwriter, musician (an uncredited funky drummer), record producer and arranger, who had retired from public performances since the mid nineties – White battled Parkinson’s Disease for a long time (diagnosed with it in 1980). It was announced by Verdine White that his brother passed away peacefully at 74 years young in LA on 4th February.
The entertainment world is left void of an icon who made our hearts sing his many lullabies as we danced to the karimba strings (the African thumb piano often featured on lots of the band’s work) weaved in as the rooted rhythmic (E W & F signature) sound at discotheques and house parties around the world.
As legacies stand the music does not have to stop so “Let’s Groove” on some more in honour of White and E, W & F. We can “Get Away” and enter into “Boogie Wonderland” where ever we as the fans are. After all it’s a good “Reason” to get in the “Spirit” as he would have liked.
Catch Marcia Carr’s ‘Mixedbag’ show on Mi Soul Radio every Monday from 2pm to 4pm. Click here
Comments