If you try to get Verdine White to wax nostalgic or talk about the legacy of Earth, Wind & Fire, you won’t get far.
“We don’t do it like that,” White said. “We just keep it moving. We’re very appreciative of the past, but we’re not looking back.”
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That said, Earth, Wind & Fire can’t help but fill its shows with the songs that got the group in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, earned a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and praise from the likes of the late Miles Davis, Quincy Jones and Alicia Keys and influenced generations of artists, from Beyonce and Justin Timberlake to Lion Babe’s Jillian Hervey.
The band will be stopping over at Live Oak Bank Pavilion in downtown Wilmington on May 17.
Founded by White’s older brother Maurice in 1970, Earth, Wind & Fire was one of the most popular bands in the world by the middle of the decade. They had a string of hits — from 1975’s No. 1 smash “Shining Star” through “Sing a Song,” “Got to Get You into My Life,” “Boogie Wonderland” and “Let’s Groove.”
Four decades and more than 90 million albums sold later, Earth, Wind and Fire is still going strong, playing music that feels fresh and contemporary in widely praised shows around the globe.
“We have to thank my brother Maurice for that,” White said. “He was the originator, the creator of the band. He put something together that ended up being timeless. The music’s been everywhere. It’s part of the soundtrack of our lives, of multiple generations lives. We see it every night.”
Maurice White passed away in 2016 at 74 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. Verdine said he stopped touring with the band. His brother carries on the legacy and plays bass, with two other core members, Ralph Johnson and Phillip Bailey, on drums and vocals respectively.
“He trained us very well, so we’re very confident,” White said. “He was a great teacher. A great teacher, big brother. He was as cool as they come.”
Their music continues to blend pop, funk, soul, R&B and rock, with shades of jazz, Latin and Afro-pop. The band created a revolution in Black pop that continues to reverberate through music today.
“It’s a fusion of styles,” White said. “In the beginning, we actually did more jazz, then put in R&B, then pop, then rock. That came from Maurice. He was definitely the leader, putting it all together made it really sound universal and unique at the same time.”
While White wouldn’t commit to any specifics, he said it’s likely that Earth Wind & Fire will have a new album out sooner rather than later. It would be its first since 2014’s “Holiday” and its first since Maurice’s death.
So far, though, the only newer music available is in a single, “You Want My Love.” Produced by Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, it features guest vocals from Lucky Daye.
On tour the three original members are joined in the live shows by a three-man horn section, a bunch of percussionists/vocalists, a keyboard player, a pair of guitarists.
And they deliver a tightly rehearsed, choreographed, musically impressive show, whether it’s to a few thousand in a small amphitheater or concert hall or tens of thousands at festivals.
So, in the spirit of keeping moving Verdine, what can those who come to see Earth, Wind & Fire expect?
“Tell ‘em they’re going to feel better after than they did coming in and they might not be able to sleep that night,” he said. “We have to have an exciting show. The audience has to enjoy themselves. They will. It will be fun.”
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