Maurice White of Earth Wind and Fire Dead

I slightly remember them, liked them, but didn't know a lot about them. I'm out of sound for youtube, maybe I can fix that, but in the meantime I can't hear the vids.

Anyway, rest in peace, Maurice.

Earth Wind & Fire is arguably the greatest R&B band of Alltime. Maurice White will be missed, but his music lives on.

I suppose you are not kidding..

Let him be.

Kidding about what?

about their being the best band yada yada.

I had to go back and listen to some of the Earth Wind and Fire music.

I'd forgotten how fun some of those 70's outfits and choreos were.

Loved that super-smooth dance groove and his soulful voice.

Some great memories.



smooth as silk

They were a tremendously talented and influential group of musicians.

Some of their riffs can't be beat.

If you think that saying Earth Wind and Fire may have been the greatest R&B band ever is a joke, all due respect but you obviously don't know much about the subject. Earth Wind and Fire's horn section ALONE has been compared to the best horn sections in rock forever. I would go so far as saying they may have been one of the greatest bands of ANY genre.

Never claim them of being the best band. Because there are different genres of music that would invoke different opinions, I specified that Earth Wind & Fire is arguably the greatest (R&B) band of alltime. The keyword being (R&B)

Remember Serpentine Fire, Get Away, Reasons, Devotions, Keep Your Head to The Sky, September, Fantasy, Loves Holiday, After The Is Gone, That's The Way of The World, Got to get You Into My Life, You, and Let Me Talk. Those are some songs off the top of my head..

skip the first couple of minutes of crowd hoodoo and then boom amazing music



music/lyrics/instrumentation/voices/musicality and musicianship

they had it all at their peak

gawd

the horn section

the best of the genre for sure

ok one more just because sometimes it's hard to grasp how they did all of that

a bit of good hardcore choreo (hard to do this well with a group this size)

tight tight music



an audience really got their money's worth from them



(were any of the musicians classically trained? seems likely but I don't know)

You are absolutely correct about their horn section being unmatched by any group of any genre. Their percussion sounds and vocal arrangements were also nothing short of amazing. Don't forget about their stage presence. The special affects, the light show, the illusions, all trend setting live shows. The fashions and clothing were innovating to the say least. Their actual lyrics to so many of their songs had depth and inspiring meanings.

I've got 70's R&B as one of my stations on Pandora. Earth Wind and Fire come up a lot. Their music takes me back to my preteen years and memories of my sister through whom I got into R&B and Funk at that early age.

The music is still fresh, especially considering the rap and hip-hop acts that heavily crib hooks from these songs. I was kind of taken aback that Maurice White was in his 70's. Time marches on.

LACRIMOSA DIES ILLA...

It's true I don't. I wasn't paying attention then. When I did hear stuff, I didn't think it wonderful.

If that guy is so good rock forever, I'm fine with it.

I don't know whether or not if any of the musicians were classically trained. I do recall watching an Earth Wind & Fire documentary a few years ago. I remember hearing that Maurice White started out as a drummer for a jazz trio group. I also remember hearing that some of the musicians in the group started out as jazz musicians. I think some also may have had some gospel influences. In the interview they also mentioned that there was a heavy influence from African music. They infused so many different influences. I guess that's why their sound was so innovative and unique.

I knew about his jazz background. That would probably factor into why the arrangements sounded the way they did (within the different genres they performed in there is a consistency to the quality of the arrangements).

I didn't realize til I did some reading tonight that Mr. White was responsible for the kalimba being used on all of their recordings. I knew that it was there (it's a sound I really like) - but didn't know his role in bringing it in.

It's more than rock. They were / are splendid in all the genres they perform in. Several of the musicians had/have very strong jazz backgrounds. They are damn fine musicians who also wrote good music - and also put on fabulous shows.