My Life with Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire was one of the most popular and significant bands of the past century. They transcended genres and fused diverse influences, from R&B to pop to jazz and beyond, earning multiple Grammy Awards—and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Although many of band founder Maurice White’s contemporaries and fans felt a kinship with him through his music, he remained an intensely private man. In this riveting account of his massively popular band, he bares his soul. Raised by a family friend, relentlessly teased by schoolmates, Maurice found refuge in music. By the time he was six, he was singing in a gospel choir. He came of age musically with close childhood friends and future legends Booker T. Jones and songwriter David Porter. Trained at the Chicago Conservatory of Music, he later joined Chess Records, where he played drums for Etta James, Sonny Stitt, and countless others. With the Ramsey Lewis Trio, he honed his showmanship and learned about the music business, but after receiving what he believed to be a message from God, he created Earth, Wind & Fire. Sellout crowds were spellbound by the band’s costumes, energetic movement, dynamic horns, floating pianos, spinning drum kits, and vanishing acts assisted by magician David Copperfield. The band’s performances were no less forgettable than their perennial hits: “Shining Star;” “Reasons;” “Got to Get You into My Life;” “September;” “Boogie Wonderland;” and “Let’s Groove.” Maurice White’s story illuminates Earth, Wind & Fire’s position as a band essential to American culture, and offers an intimate look at his final days, from his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease to his faith, which helped him not only to cope but also to savor every single moment.