In 1969 Maurice White who was a former session drummer for Chess Records as well as a former member of  The Ramses Lewis Trio joined two friends in Chicago to become a song-writing team. They were Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead. They got a recording contract with Capitol Records and became The Salty Peppers. They had a small hit with "La La Time" in 1969. The second single "Uh Huh Yeah" didn't do anything so Maurice moved from Chicago to L.A. added singer Sherry Scott and percusionist Yackov Ben Israel. Maurice's brother Verdine joined on bass guitar. They managed to sign a new contract with Warner Brothers in 1970. Maurice White's astrological sign, Sagittarius, has a primary elemental quality of fire and seasonal qualities of earth and air. So they decided to call the new band: Earth, Wind & Fire. In 1971 they released their first untitled album. Their second album was also  released in 1971 titled "The Need Of Love". The band became popular on college campuses but in this first incarnation the band already split up. Brothers Verdine and Maurice White were the only members left. 

From album cover "Last Days And Time"

So in 1972 Maurice added singer Helena Davis, flautist and saxophonist Ronnie Laws, guitarist Roland Bautista, keyboardist Larry Dunn, vocalist Philip Bailey and percussionist Ralph Johnson. Helena was soon replaced by Jessica Cleaves who came from the band Friends of Distinction. A performance at New York's Rockefeller Center introduced EWF to Clive Davis, then-President of Columbia Records. Columbia Records bought their contract from Warner Brothers. Their next album was "Last Days And Time" which is their first impressing album. 

EWF in 1974 (photo shoot "Open Our Eyes"

Roland Bautista and Ronnie Laws left the band and were replaced by saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk and 2 guitarists  Al McKay (ex Ike & Tina Turner revue) and Johnny Graham (ex New Birth). Their fourth album was "Head To The Sky" that reached #27 in the US and was released in 1974. Jessica Cleaves left after the album release. Their next album "Open Our Eyes" managed to reach #15 in the US. So It eventually were the eyes of the people in America that were opened. The single "Mighty Mighty" reached #29  in the US and "Devotion" reached #33 in the US. After the album was released another brother of Maurice joined the band. So Fred White also joined.

So in 1975 they finally reached stardom in America. They were then approached by Sig Shore who directed the movie "Super Fly" for his next movie "That's The Way Of The World".  Their next album was the soundtrack for that movie released in 1975. The album's power comes from the quality of the songs and the many possibilities they have with a band of 9 members. The album skillfully blends soul, rock and Latin rhythms across its eight tracks, all overseen by the band's founder and leader Maurice White. Its lead-off single "Shining Star," showcasing a magnificent falsetto performance from the track's co-writer Philip Bailey, became the group's million-selling singles' breakthrough. Because of this success the band was now able to hire their own horn section called the Phenix Horns. They were saxophonist Don Myrick, trombonist Louis Satterfield, and trumpeters Rahmlee Davis and Michael Harris. Maurice already knew Myrick and Satterfield from his time as studio musician for Chess Records. This album is in my opinion their best album with overall good music.

After the release of this album disco was introduced to the world and EWF had even more success and also worldwide.

Movie poster for "That's The Way Of The World"

MOVIE
The movie "That's The Way Of The World" was about the movie business and includes the members of Earth, Wind & Fire. They were called "The Band" in the movie ad recorded their debut album but couldn't finish the album due to a new group of the record company that was more favoured by the record company. But the movie ends with a happy ending for everyone.

Backside of the album

CHARTS
The album reached #1 in the US. The single "Shining Star" also reached #1 in the US. The title song reached #12 in the US.

Original album cover

That's The Way Of The World (1975)
Shining Star / That's the Way of the World / Happy Feelin' / All About Love / Yearnin' Learnin' / Reasons / Africano / See the Light

AUDIO/VIDEO

Part of the movie "That's The Way Of The World"

That's The Way Of The World

Shining Star

All About Love