Fan CastingSeptember: The Earth, Wind & Fire Story

Earth, Wind & Fire (abbreviated in initials as EWF or EW&F) is an American band that has spanned the musical genres of R&B, soul, funk, jazz, disco, pop, rock, dance, Latin, and Afro pop.They have been described as one of the most innovative and commercially successful acts of all time. Rolling Stone called them "innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing" and declared that the band "changed the sound of black pop". VH1 has also described EWF as "one of the greatest bands" of all time. The band was founded in Chicago by Maurice White in 1970, having grown out of a previous band known as the Salty Peppers.[6][7] Other prominent members of EWF have included Verdine White, Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Larry Dunn, Al McKay, Roland Bautista, Sheldon Reynolds and Andrew Woolfolk. The band has won six Grammys from their 17 nominations. In addition, Earth, Wind & Fire has won 4 American Music Awards out of 12 nominations. They have also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and sold over 90 million records, making them one of the world's best-selling bands of all time. EWF has been inducted into the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame and Hollywood's Rockwalk. The band have also been bestowed with a ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, BET Lifetime Achievement Award and Soul Train Legend Award altogether. Earth, Wind & Fire is known for its horn section, kalimba sound, energetic and elaborate stage shows, and the contrast between Philip Bailey's falsetto vocals and Maurice White's baritone.[12] Of the band's songs two have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame being "That's the Way of the World" in 2004 and "Shining Star" in 2007. Earth, Wind & Fire also went on to be bestowed with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Earth, Wind & Fire is the first African-American act to sell out Madison Square Garden and to receive the MSG Gold Ticket Award. As well, the band went on to be bestowed with the 2012 Congressional Horizon Award.