Earth Wind & Fire

"Symphonic funk", "progressive funk", "R&B, soul and pop"... Even today, the musical style of the band Earth, Wind and Fire remains unclassifiable. If its founder, Maurice White, claimed the heritage of the great jazzmen, the music he produced, far from being elitist, made crowds dance all over the world. Brazilian, Cuban, African or Caribbean influences, tracks such as September, Boogie Wonderland or Let's Groove set the rhythm and propelled the group to the biggest venues and stadiums around the world.
 
With disco-style resonant bass lines, strong percussion, funky guitars and a prestigious brass section, the band doesn't stop at dancefloor melodies. Its musicians are true technicians whose talent is recognised even by jazz lovers. Associated with the extraordinary science of the harmony of Maurice White's baritone and Philippe Bailey's falsetto voices, they write songs as complex as their success is popular.
 
At the height of their career, their concerts became over-the-top shows. Dressed in their most beautiful costumes, they distributed generous doses of sequins and refused nothing. Whether it be grandiose decorations against the backdrop of Egyptian pyramids, pyrotechnics or laser light effects. Until they disappear entirely in a pyramid, helped by the magician Doug Henning and his assistant, a certain David Coperfield.
 
If the band slowly declined along with the funk, it will have changed the history of American pop by breaking some of the racial taboos that surrounded the 70s. And left its mark on a whole generation that still hums along to its hit songs by sketching out a few dance steps.