
Maurice White
by Ed HoganSinger/drummer/songwriter/producer Maurice White founded the 70s supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire. White, a former session drummer for legendary Chicago-based labels OKeh Records and Chess Records (Etta James, Fontella Bass, Billy Stewart, Ramsey Lewis, Sonny Stitts 1966 LP Soul in the Night, the Radiants, among others), aspired to form a band like no other pop music had ever known. It certainly was successful, as EWF combined high-caliber musicianship, a wide-ranging musical genre eclecticism, and 70s multicultural spiritualism that included Biblical references. The Ramsey Lewis and Earth, Wind & Fire single Sun Goddess was used as the basis for Visions, a track on the debut album by former Vertical Hold lead singer Angie Stone, Black Diamond, issued by Arista/BMG in fall 1999. The Chicago-born band had 46 charting R&B singles, 33 charting pop singles including eight gold singles, won six Grammys, four American Music Awards, ...