Career

Chess Records, studio drummer, 1962-67; Ramsey Lewis Trio, drummer, 1967-69; formed band, the Salty Peppers, which signed with Capitol Records, 1969; changed name of band to Earth, Wind & Fire (EWF) and signed with Warner Bros. label, 1971; revamped EWF lineup and signed with Columbia records, 1974; appeared with EWF in the motion picture Sgt. Pepper`s Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1978; formed own label, ARC, in conjunction with Columbia Records, late 1970s; formed Kalimba Productions, 1983, produced albums by Ramsey Lewis, Deneice Williams, Valerie Carter, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, El DeBarge, and others; returned to Warner Bros. label with EWF, 1992; withdrew from touring, but remained principal composer and producer of EWF.

Life`s Work

The name Maurice White is practically synonymous with the musical term "crossover." During the 1970s, a new brand of pop music was born, one that was steeped in African and African-American styles--particularly jazz and R&B--but appealed to a broader cross-section of the listening public. As founder and leader of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, White not only embraced, but helped bring about this evolution of pop which bridged the gap that has often separated the musical tastes of black and white America.

White was born December 19, 1941, in Chicago. At an early age, his family, which included ten children, moved to Memphis. Here White was immersed in a rich musical culture that spanned the boundaries between jazz, gospel, R&B, blues, and early rock. All of these styles played a role in the development White`s musical identity. At age six, White began singing in his church`s gospel choir, but soon his interest turned to percussion. He began working gigs as a drummer while still in high school. His first professional performance was with Booker T. Jones, who eventually achieved stardom with Booker T and the MGs.

After graduating high school, White moved back to the Windy City to continue his musical education at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. He continued picking up drumming jobs on the side, which eventually lead to a steady spot as a studio percussionist with the legendary Chicago label, Chess Records. At Chess, White had the privilege of playing with such greats as Etta James, Willie Dixon, and Ramsey Lewis, whose trio he joined in 1967. White spent nearly three years as part of the Ramsey Lewis Trio. "Ramsey helped shape my musical vision beyond just the music," White said in biography provided by Great Scott Productions. "I learned about performance and staging." From Lewis, White also learned about the African thumb piano, or kalimba, an instrument whose sound would become central to much of his work over the years.

In 1969 White moved to Los Angeles to form his own band, initially called the Salty Peppers. That band featured White on vocals, percussion, and kalimba, along with keyboardists/vocalists Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead. The Peppers recorded briefly for the Capitol label, but did not manage to reach a large audience. White switched labels in 1971, signing a new contract with Warner Brothers. He simultaneously made what may have been the smartest move of his young career: he changed the band`s name to Earth, Wind & Fire, after the three elements in his astrological chart. The new name also captured White`s spiritual approach to music--a brand of music that transcended categories and appealed to multiple artistic principals, including co

Post a Comment | View All Comments (1)