Happy Music Monday! On February 4th, the great and wonderful Maurice White passed away, and somehow Scott just didn't hear about it until right now. He's a big Earth Wind & Fire fan so he's going to make up for his mistakes right now! Let's pay tribute to a musical juggernaut together.
Earth, Wind & Fire - After The Love Has Gone
This is the first Earth, Wind & Fire song I ever heard. It was on the stereo in our downstairs room, it was summer, the back door was open and there was a light breeze. I had nothing to do and most of the day to not do it in. I was still a kid, and I didn't know the band's name, but I felt like it was the most perfect song for that moment and I still do. I didn't know anything about the history of the band or what they were trying to do or really anything at all, I just knew that it was an amazing song that felt like a nice summer's day. And that was really enough for me.
More coming up, as you'd expect.
I admit that my memory might be hazy, but here's the story as I can recall it: my Dad got HBO very early on as part of a special deal, and every day they would start their programming at about 4:30 by showing The Water Babies and then segue into more serious movies. One night I was flipping channels and I saw a screaming hawk made out of laser beams and heard the words Earth earth earth Wind wind wind & Fire and I was madly in love with whatever happened next. I recall having to choose between watching the concert or watching Doctor Who on my local PBS station. Then my dad came home early and put it on the news so I watched neither. But I never forgot the band's name. You don't forget a band that brings you a screaming laser hawk.
Earth, Wind & Fire - Got To Get You Into My Life
Although it wasn't the best movie ever made, I was super excited to watch Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on a TV and radio simulcast. Really. The local radio station played the sound over the stereo and the TV station showed the video through the TV. And guess what? It was COMPLETELY out of sync and everyone panned it like it was the Star Wars Holiday Special. But this song was always held up as a high point, maybe cause hating on this would be like getting mad at Mozart. Maurice White was, to the best of my knowledge, a Christian until the day he died, and it really shows in the love that pours out of every one of his songs. It's like the exact opposite of the blues.
Here's something I only learned while writing this tribute: Maurice White formed a trio to write songs for commercials, and that slowly turned into Earth, Wind & Fire. I'm glad he took his talents into pop music instead, but imagine how great the man could have been at writing advertising jingles! All those Earth, Wind & Fire crossover hits weren't an accident, you know. The band knew what they were doing.
Earth, Wind & Fire - To You (feat. Brian McKnight)
This tribute is just to one guy, but he wasn't ever alone. Refusing to break up Earth, Wind & Fire and go solo was a massive decision, and being a band leader likely wasn't easy. He also suffered from Parkinson's Disease later in life and had to take a break from the band's touring for a bit, falling into a kind of Brian Wilson role. The band still continues without him, but his presence will continue to be felt. God bless you for what you did for music, Maurice White. This kid from the South would have been way way different without that important summer's day.
Let us just remind you: some images come from the corresponding Wikipedia page and are here under fair use. See you next week, when we'll pay tribute to the late, great Phife Dawg.