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Do You Remember? - Celebrating Fifty Years of Earth, Wind & Fire

Do You Remember?

Celebrating Fifty Years of Earth, Wind & Fire

By Trenton Bailey
Series: American Made Music Series

Hardcover : 9781496843098, 276 pages, 62 b&w photographs, December 2022
Paperback : 9781496843104, 276 pages, 62 b&w photographs, December 2022

The first serious study of one of America’s favorite bands

Description

In Do You Remember? Celebrating Fifty Years of Earth, Wind & Fire, Trenton Bailey traces the humble beginning of Maurice White, his development as a musician, and his formation of Earth, Wind & Fire, a band that became a global phenomenon during the 1970s. By the early 1980s, the music industry was changing, and White had grown weary after working constantly for more than a decade. He decided to put the band on hiatus for more than three years. The band made a comeback in 1987, but White’s health crisis soon forced them to tour without him. During the twenty-first century, the band has received numerous accolades and lifetime achievement and hall of fame awards. The band remains relevant today, collaborating with younger artists and maintaining their classic sound.

Earth, Wind & Fire stood apart from other soul bands with their philosophical lyrics and extravagant visual art, much of which is studied in the book, including album covers, concerts, and music videos. The lyrics of hit songs are examined alongside an analysis of the band’s chart success. Earth, Wind & Fire has produced twenty-one studio albums and several compilation albums. Each album is analyzed for content and quality. Earth, Wind & Fire is also known for using ancient Egyptian symbols, and Bailey thoroughly details those symbols and Maurice White’s fascination with Egyptology. After enduring many personnel changes, Earth, Wind & Fire continues to perform around the world and captivate diverse audiences.

Reviews

"Do You Remember? is an essential, breakthrough installment in what should be a generation of thoughtful reappraisals of the band that is Earth, Wind & Fire. The detailed information given here is essential and will establish this book in the field."

- Rickey Vincent, author of Funk: The Music, the People and the Rhythm of the One

"Finding complete books about African American bands from the 1970s is a much harder task than it should be. This detailed examination of the biggest of all of those bands is essential reading for anyone who loves the music of Earth, Wind & Fire."

- Marcus Chapman, music historian, radio personality, author, and on-screen contributor to TV One’s Unsung