Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003. Brief notes:. The albums first single is "Show Me the Way", featuring Raphael Saadiq [1] (http://www.philipbailey.com/). In 2003, she wrote and recorded "La Chanson de Gainsbourg" as a tribute to the composer of some of her biggest hits. A new album, Illuminated, is scheduled for release in 2005. One of the most frequent interpreters of Gainsbourg's songs was British singer Petula Clark, whose success in France was propelled by her recordings of his tunes. In the summer of 2004, Earth, Wind & Fire signed an exlusive record deal with Sanctuary Urban Records Group, owned by Matthew Knowles, father and manager of pop star Beyoncé. His home at the well-known address 5bis rue de Verneuil is still totally covered by grafitti and poems.

The Promise received good reveiws upon its release, and was first issued in the United States and Japan; it was issued in Europe in early 2004. Gainsbourg died on March 2, 1991 of a heart-attack and was buried in Montparnasse Cemetery, in Paris. Maurice White released two new Earth, Wind & Fire albums on his own label, Kalimba Records, in 2002: Live In Rio, a live album from a 1980 tour, and The Promise, the band's first all-new studio album in six years. The title of the latter demonstrates Gainsbourg's love of word play, which could sometimes be painful "Bowie, Bah Oui". Five years later, Maurice White was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. His songs became increasingly eccentric, ranging from the anti-drug "Les Enfants de la Chance" to the questionable duet with Charlotte "Lemon Incest". In 1993, saxonphonist Don Myrick was fatally shot by the Los Angeles Police Department in a case of mistaken identity. Towards the end of his life, Gainsbourg became a regular feature on French talk shows, with perhaps the most famous outburst coming when he told Whitney Houston "I want to fuck you".

The band continued to periodically release new albums, including 1990's Heritage and 1993's Millennium in 1993. During this period he released Love On The Beat and his last studio album You're Under Arrest, as well as two live recordings. A 1987 Earth, Wind & Fire reunion was a mild success, but the band was never able to return to the kind of success they had achieved in the 1970s. During this last decade he made a lot of TV appearances devoted to his controversial sense of humour and provocation. White disbanded Earth, Wind & Fire in 1983 after Electric Universe was released to poor sales and reviews. Next year saw him in the new look of Gainsbarre officially introduced in the song "Ecce Homo". Two years later, the band released the critically acclaimed I Am with the mainstream ballad "After The Love Is Gone". After the releases of Faces (1980) and Raise! (1981), which featured the popular single "Let's Groove", the band's success started to wane. He was able to reply to his critics that his version was in fact closer to the original as the manuscript clearly shows the words "Aux armes et cætera..." for the chorus.

Earth Wind & Fire released Spirit in 1976; and had hits with singles such as "Getaway" and "Imagine." In 1977, the group released another classic album, All 'N All, featuring songs such as "I Write A Song", "Serpentine Fire", "Love's Holiday", and the pop hit "Fantasy." Not long after its release, producer and songwriter Charles Stepney died of a heart attack. Shortly afterwards, Gainsbourg bought the original manuscript of La Marseillaise. New studio hits such as "Sing A Song" and "Can't Hide Love" were also included. This song earned him death threats from right wing veterans of the Algerian War of Independence. Also in 1975, Earth, Wind & Fire released Gratitude, a live album which featured performances of singles from previous albums such as "Sun Goddess" with jazz legend Ramsey Lewis, "Shining Star", and the quiet storm classic "Reasons". In 1978 he recorded a reggae version of the French national anthem "La Marseillaise", "Aux Armes et cetera" in Jamaica, with Bob Marley's band, The Wailers. Though the film was not a success, the song "Shining Star" became a huge mainstream hit and launched the band's career. Next year saw the release of another major work L'Homme à la Tête de Chou (Cabbage-Head Man) featuring Marilou as a new character and somptuous orchestral themes.

Earth, Wind & Fire's true breakthrough, however, came in the form of the soundtrack to That's the Way of the World in 1975. Serge had worn the yellow star as a child in Paris. The Head to the Sky album (1973) was a moderate success, but 1974's Open Our Eyes was a major hit. In 1975, he released the album Rock Around the Bunker the only rock album entirely written on the subject of the Nazis, recalling with black humour of how he and his family suffered during World War II. At this time, Claves, Lawsm and Bautista left the band, and Andrew Woolfolk, Al McKay, and Johnny Graham were added to the lineup. It has proven exceptionally influential with artists such as Air, David Holmes and Beck. The new line-up was signed to CBS Records by Clive Davis and released Last Days and Time without much success. This concept-album arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier was mainly based on Nabokov's novel Lolita.

In 1972, White dissolved the line-up (minus himself and brother Verdine White), and added Jessica Cleaves (vocals),Ronnie Laws (flute, saxophone), Larry Dunn (keyboard), Ralph Johnson (percussion) and Philip Bailey (vocals, formerly of Friends & Love). His most influential work Histoire de Melody Nelson was released in 1971. However, neither album was commercially successful. 1 in the UK chart. Their self-titled debut album, Earth, Wind & Fire, was released in 1970 to great critical acclaim, as was The Need of Love (1971). Its notoriety led to it reaching no. White moved his band to Los Angeles, California and changed its name to "Earth, Wind & Fire". Considered too "hot", the song was censored in various countries and in France even the toned-down version was suppressed.

After spending time as a member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, he formed a band called The Salty Peppers and signed to Capitol Records, releasing a regionally successful single called "La La Time". Originally recorded with Brigitte Bardot, it was released with a different female singer, future girlfriend Jane Birkin, when Bardot backed out. Bandleader Maurice White began his recording career as a session drummer, working for Chess Records. moi non plus, was vocally very erotic. Led by Maurice White, they are best known for their hits of the 1970s, among them "After the Love is Gone", "Reasons", and "Shining Star". His most famous song, Je t'aime.. Earth, Wind & Fire is a legendary American funk band, formed in Chicago in 1969. moi non plus, Equateur, Charlotte For Ever and Stan The Flasher.

He directed himself four movies : Je t'aime.. During his career, he wrote the soundtracks for more than 40 movies. Gainsbourg wanted to break free from old-fashioned chanson and explore new musical grounds, influenced by British and American pop. His early songs were influenced by Boris Vian.

moi non plus. Je t'aime.. Lemon Incest. Les Sucettes.