Earth, Wind & Fire is an American multi-genre band, founded by Maurice White (vocals, drums, percussion) in 1969. The band's original lineup included Maurice, his brother Verdine White (bass), guitarist Michael Beal, pianists and vocalists Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, percussionist Yackov Ben Israel, vocalist Sherry Scott, trumpeter Leslie Drayton, trombonist Alexander Thomas and saxophonist Chester Washington.

The band, since Maurice's death in 2016, currently consists of Verdine (a constant member), vocalists/percussionists Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson (both since 1972) and B. David Whitworth (since 1996), keyboardist Myron McKinley and drummer John Paris (both since 2001), lead guitarist Morris O'Connor (since 2008), vocalist Philip Doron Bailey (since 2009)

History 1969: Maurice White founded Earth, Wind & Fire with his friends Wade Flemons (vocals) and Don Whitehead (bass and keyboards) as a songwriting trio known as "The Salty Peppers". After releasing two singles the band moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, adding singer Sherry Scott, percussionist Yackov Ben Israel, and Maurice's brother Verdine on bass. The band soon changed its name to Earth, Wind & Fire. After auditioning in L.A., the band added Michael Beal on guitar, Chester Washington on reeds, Leslie Drayton on trumpet, and Alex Thomas on trombone.

1972: After releasing its second album the White brothers completely rebuilt the band, adding vocalist Helena Davis (soon replaced by Jessica Cleaves), woodwind player Ronnie Laws, guitarist Roland Bautista, keyboardist Larry Dunn, vocalist Philip Bailey and percussionist Ralph Johnson. After releasing another album, Laws and Bautista left the band. Laws was replaced by Bailey's school friend Andrew Woolfolk, and Bautista was replaced by Al McKay and Johnny Graham. This lineup recorded a new album.

1973: Following the new album's release, Jessica Cleaves left the band and was not replaced.

1974: the band was joined by Maurice and Verdine's brother Fred White as codrummer.

1975: the band was expanded to feature a horn section, called the EWF or Phenix Horns, which featured Don Myrick on saxophone, Louis "Lui Lui" Satterfield on trombone, Rahmlee Michael Davis on trumpet, and Michael Harris on trumpet.

1981: Al McKay left and was replaced by the returning Bautista.

1984: After releasing three more albums, Maurice put the band on hiatus

1987: The band returned with existing members Verdine and Maurice White, Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey and Andrew Woolfolk, and new members guitarists/vocalists Sheldon Reynolds and Dick Smith, keyboardist Vance Taylor, and drummer Sonny Emory, as well as a new horn section dubbed Earth, Wind & Fire Horns which consisted of Gary Bias on the saxophone, Raymond Lee Brown on the trumpet, and Reggie Young on flugelhorn and trombone.

1991: Smith left the band.

1992–1994, the band was joined by second keyboardist Fred Ravel. Morris Pleasure replaced Vance Taylor in 1993, playing keyboards and bass, and David Romero played percussion between 1993 and 2002.

1996: B. David Whitworth joined on percussion and vocals in 1996.

1998: Robert Brookins joined on second keyboards.

1999: Emory was replaced by Gorden Campbell

2001: Morris Pleasure left and was replaced by Myron McKinley. Bobby Gonzales joined as second guitarist and John Paris replaced Campbell in 2001.

2002: Sheldon Reynolds, David Romero and Bobby Gonzales all departed, replaced by guitarists John Johnson and Greg "G-Mo" Moore, percussionist Daniel de los Reyes, and Kimberly Brewer as female vocalist.

2004: Reynolds, Romero and Gonzales all left in 2004, along with keyboardist Robert Brookins. Krystal Bailey joined as female vocalist, though she was soon replaced by Kim Johnson.

2004: Vadim Zilbershtein joined as guitarist.

2008: Zilbershtein departed, replaced by Morris O'Connor.

2009: Bailey's son, Philip Bailey Jr. joined as a vocalist in 2009.

2014: Moore left.

2012: the band was joined by Serg Dimitrijevic.

2016: Founder Maurice White died February 4. He was still a member of the band though he hadn't toured regularly for a few years.

Members

Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsVerdine White all releasesPhilip Bailey all releases from Last Days and Time (1972) onwardsRalph JohnsonB. David Whitworth1996–presentThe Promise (2003)Myron McKinley2001–presentJohn Paris Morris O'Connor 2008–presentPhilip Doron Bailey 2009–present

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMaurice White all releases from Earth, Wind & Fire (1971) to The Classic Christmas Album (2015)Wade Flemons1969–1972 Michael Beal 1969–1972Leslie Drayton trumpet Yackov Ben Israel (aka Phillard Williams) Sherry Scott vocals Alexander Thomastrombone Chester Washingtontenor saxophoneDon Whitehead Helena Dixon1972vocals noneRoland Bautista Jessica Cleaves1972–1973 vocals Larry Dunn 1972–1984Ronnie Laws 1972–1973Last Days and Time (1972)Johnny Graham 1973–1981Al McKay 1972, 1973–1980Andrew WoolfolkFred White1974–1984 Beloyd Taylor1981–1982 Sonny Emory 1987–1999Sheldon Reynolds1987–2002 Dick Smith 1987–1991Heritage (1990)David Lautrec1990keyboards noneMike McKnight 1987–1999Vance Taylor 1987–1993Freddie Ravel 1993–1994Morris Pleasure 1993–2001In the Name of Love (1997)David Romero1993–2002percussion Robert Brookins1998–2004 noneGorden Campbell 1999–2001drums Bobby Gonzales 2001–2002Daniel de los Reyes2002–2004percussion The Promise (2003)John JohnsonnoneKimberly Brewervocals Krystal Bailey2004Kim Johnson2004–2009Greg "G-Mo" Moore2002–2014Vadim Zilbershtein2004–2008Serg Dimitrijevic 2012–2026Holiday (2014)

Phenix Horns (1975–1983) / Earth, Wind & Fire Horns (1987–present)

Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsGary Bias 1987–presentReggie Youngtrombone Bobby Burns. Jr2004–presenttrumpet none

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRahmlee Michael Davis1975–1983trumpet Michael Harris Don Myrick 1975–1983 saxophone Louis Satterfield 1975–1983 trombone Elmer Brown1979trumpet noneRaymond Lee Brown 1987–2004

Timeline

Line-ups The following is a complete chronology of the various line-ups of Earth, Wind & Fire, from the group's inception in 1971 until the present day. PeriodMembersStudio releases1970–1972Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Michael Beal – guitar, harmonica Leslie Drayton – trumpet Wade Flemons – electric piano, vocals Yackov Ben Israel – conga, percussion Sherry Scott – vocals Alexander Thomas – trombone Chester Washington – tenor saxophone Don Whitehead – acoustic/electric pianos, vocals Earth, Wind & Fire (1971) The Need of Love (1971)1972–1973Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Roland Bautista – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Helena Davis – vocals Jessica Cleaves – vocals Larry Dunn – keyboards, synthesizers, minimoog, musical director Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Ronnie Laws – flute, soprano/tenor saxophones Last Days and Time (1972)1973Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Jessica Cleaves – vocals Larry Dunn – keyboards, synthesizers, minimoog, musical director Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Johnny Graham – lead/rhythm guitar, trumpet, percussion Al McKay – lead/rhythm guitar, sitar, percussion, vocals Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Head to the Sky (1973) Open Our Eyes (1974)1973–1981Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Larry Dunn – keyboards, synthesizers, minimoog, musical director Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Johnny Graham – lead/rhythm guitar, trumpet, percussion Al McKay – lead/rhythm guitar, sitar, percussion, vocals Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Fred White – drums, percussion That's the Way of the World (1975) Gratitude (1975) Spirit (1976) All 'n All (1977) I Am (1979) Faces (1980) Earth, Wind & Fire: In Concert (1982) That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75 (2002) Live in Rio (2002)1981–1982Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Larry Dunn – keyboards, synthesizers, minimoog, musical director Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Johnny Graham – lead/rhythm guitar, trumpet, percussion Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Fred White – drums, percussion Roland Bautista – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Beloyd Taylor – percussion, vocals Raise! (1981) Powerlight (1983)1982–1984Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Larry Dunn – keyboards, synthesizers, minimoog, musical director Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Johnny Graham – lead/rhythm guitar, trumpet, percussion Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Fred White – drums, percussion Roland Bautista – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Electric Universe (1983)1984–1987Hiatus1987–1991Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals David Lautrec – keyboards Dick Smith – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Vance Taylor – keyboards Touch the World (1987) Heritage (1990) Live in Japan (1998)1991–1992Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Vance Taylor – keyboards1992–1993Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Vance Taylor – keyboards, musical director Fred Ravel – keyboards Millennium (1993)1993–1996Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Carl Carwell – vocals Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Fred Ravel – keyboards, musical director Morris Pleasure – keyboards, bass David Romero – percussion In the Name of Love (1997) Greatest Hits Live (1996) Earth, Wind & Fire: Live (2001)1996–1998Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Carl Carwell – vocals Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Morris Pleasure – keyboards, bass, musical director David Romero – percussion Mike McKnight – keyboards B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals1998–1999Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Morris Pleasure – keyboards, bass, musical director David Romero – percussion Mike McKnight – keyboards B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Robert Brookins – keyboards1999–2001Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba