EARTH, WIND & FIRE Celebrates 35 Years of Making Music
With the September 20, 2005 Release of ILLUMINATION
ILLUMINATION Offers an Array of Award-Winning
and Acclaimed Producers and Guest Artists
(New York) Legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire will release their 23rd career album, Illumination, through Sanctuary Records Group on September 20, 2005. Anchored by founding members Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson, Illumination offers an array of stellar producers and guest artists that have appreciated and gleaned profound inspiration from Earth, Wind & Fire’s extraordinary career.
The influence and timeless signature sound of Earth, Wind & Fire is crystal clear with the single releases. Black Eyed Peas leader Wil I Am wrote and produced the rousing “Lovely People” complete with peppery horn and kalimba lines. Super producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis tip their trademarked hats in tribute to the horn-laced ensemble sound of The Fire with the gently uplifting “Pure Gold”
The seeds of Illumination’s origin sprang from an idea lead singer Philip Bailey had of collaborating with new generation of soul artists for his next solo album. “The idea of illumination is vibrant and positive,” states EWF’s Philip Bailey. “Earth Wind & Fire collaborating with the new ‘soul movement’ made sense because the thrust of their music is still about playing instruments and utilizing vintage sounds, only in today’s setting.”
Jam & Lewis’ sexy flirtation “Love Dance” on Illumination was playfully utilized in the 2005 animated film release, Robots. Grammy Award winner Raphael Saadiq, (Tony! Toni! Tone!; Lucy Pearl) produced four songs on Illumination, including “Show Me the Way” – a duet he sings with EWF leader Maurice White which earned a 2004 Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal by a Duo or Group. He also contributes the samba-rooted “Work it Out,” a fitting showcase for Philip’s falsetto entitled “Pass You By,” and the vibrant opening track “Love Together”.
For Illumination’s star–studded track, EWF bounces to the ATL for the hip hop-laced party joint “This Is How I Feel,” produced by Organized Noize, featuring rapper Big Boi of OutKast, singers Sleepy Brown and Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child in a duet with EWF lead singer Philip Bailey. This steamy invitation to boogie was also used this year in the Will Smith romantic comedy, Hitch.
Crooner Brian McKnight’s fusion of key elements from past Earth, Wind & Fire’s classic ballads creates his own epic, “To You.” Acclaimed female poetry/soul duo Floetry bring their conscience cleansing balm to the soothing motivator “Elevated” (produced by Darren Henson and Keith Pelzer). R&B futurist Vikter Duplaix laces the joyously tropical instrumental “Liberation,” which features tantalizing bursts of EWF’s wondrous wordless vocal melodies. As a bonus, the pied piper of soprano sax Kenny G guests on a cover of OutKast’s infectious, instant club classic, “The Way You Move.”
Earth, Wind & Fire is simply one of the most important, influential, innovative and commercially omnipotent contemporary pop music bands of the 20th century. Their 35-year history produced million and millions of albums sold worldwide (including eight double-platinum albums, two platinum albums and three gold albums). Five #1 R&B albums, one #1 Pop and eight Top 10 Pop albums, and eight #1 R&B singles.
Earth, Wind & Fire and the founding members have eight Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, honors from the NAACP and BET and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The coup de grace: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2000. With a catalog of mega-hits spanning over three decades Earth Wind & Fire remains to this day one of the top globally-popular touring attractions.
ILLUMINATION - Track listing:
- LOVE TOGETHER Produced by Raphael Saadiq (Written by R. Saadiq, K. Wooten)
- PURE GOLD Produced & Written by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
- LOVE’S DANCE Produced & Written by Jimmy & Terry Lewis
- SHOW ME THE WAY- FEAT. RAPHAEL SAADIQ Produced by R. Saadiq (Written by R. Saadiq, T. Jackson)
- THIS IS HOW I FEEL – FEAT. SLEEPY BROWN, BIG BOI & KELLY ROWLAND (Written and Produced by Organized Noize)
- LOVELY PEOPLE – FEAT. WIL I AM of THE BLACK EYED PEAS (Produced & Written by WIL I AM)
- PASS YOU BY Produced by Raphael Saadiq (Written by R. Saadiq, T. Jackson)
- THE ONE Produced by Organized Noize (Written by P. Brown, R. Murray, R. Wade)
- TO YOU - FEAT. BRIAN MCKNIGHT Produced & Written by Brian McKnight
- ELEVATED - FEAT. FLOETRY Produced By Darren Henson & Keith Pelzer (Written by M. Ambrosius, N. Stewart, D. Henson, K. Pelzer)
- LIBERATION Produced & Written by Vikter Duplaix
- WORK IT OUT Produced by Raphael Saadiq (Written by R. Saadiq, T. Jackson, S. Bailey, K. Wooten)
BONUS TRACK – THE WAY YOU MOVE - Kenny G & Earth, Wind & Fire
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46th Annual GRAMMY Awards Final Nominations List
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
• Hold Me
Earth, Wind & Fire
Track from: The Promise
[Kalimba Records]
http://www.grammy.com/awards/grammy/46noms.aspx#randb
With their first new studio album in six years already heating up the charts, Earth, Wind and Fire continue to deliver the lush arrangements and tight performances you’d expect from these classic Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers. Pop open their custom QuickTime Player, and, behind the planets, discover three singles from their new album “The Promise,” including “All in the Way,” “She Waits,” and “Wonderland.” You can also view live concert footage of the band performing the classics “September” and “Shining Star.”
Like to own your favorite Earth, Wind and Fire songs in pristine digital form? Find them at the iTunes Music Store .
http://www.apple.com/enews/2003/08/22enews3.html
Music Industry News Network
TUESDAY, JULY 15TH
Band News [07-14-2003]
Earth, Wind & Fire's Rockwalk Induction
EARTH, WIND & FIRE were inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk Monday, July 7 by actor and radio personality STEVE HARVEY.
article
http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=54263
NEWS - Earth, Wind & Fire Share Memories Of Barry White
07/08/2003
(7/8/03, 10 a.m. ET) -- Members of Earth, Wind & Fire shared memories of the late Barry White on Monday (July 7) after their Hollywood Rockwalk induction honors. Singer Philip Bailey recalled how EWF toured overseas with White several years ago, and every night the group would make sure to catch White in action on stage.
"We were big fans as well, so you know, we would go out and listen to him,” Bailey said. “It was great, just to have been able to experience that, you know, in Europe. What a voice. What a sound. And just a great person. Barry White will be sorely missed. I mean, like, he's part of the fabric of society."
EWF bandleader Maurice White agreed that the late singer, who died on the 4th Of July from kidney failure, was a unique talent who will be sorely missed. "Barry was, as he (Philip Bailey) said, a part of America,” said Maurice White. “You know, the sense of his presence in the music industry. He was a great producer, and I admired him from afar, and he will be missed."
Music Industry News Network
SUNDAY, JULY 6TH
Band News [07-01-2003]
Legendary R&B Group Earth, Wind & Fire To Be Inducted Into Hollywood's Rockwalk
WHO: Legendary R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire, widely renowned for their energetic rhythms, sultry-classic love songs, feel good vibes and positive and uplifting lyrics, provide an unforgettable magic that has earned the group six consecutive double platinum albums and more than 40 million album sales just in the U.S.
article
http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=53825
Earth Wind & Fire drummer/percussionist Ralph Johnson
Tuesday, June 24, 5 p.m. ET
article
http://cgi1.usatoday.com/mchat/20030624004/tscript.htm
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EARTH, WIND AND FIRE
RETURN TO THE CHARTS WITH
"THE PROMISE"
SUMMER TOUR IN MOTION
With their summer tour of theaters in high gear, EARTH, WIND & FIRE have returned with THE PROMISE (Kalimba Records), their first album of new studio material in six years which debuted at #5 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart, #19 on Billboard’s R&B chart and #89 on Billboard’s Top 200 Pop chart.
Fans and critics are finding that THE PROMISE features the same crisp arrangements, soaring harmonies and impeccable instrumental performances that earned the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees six consecutive double platinum albums and more than 40 million U.S. album sales.
In a recent interview, MAURICE WHITE told The Dallas Morning News (May 30, 2003): “Our music is a mixture of things and, in a sense, an improvisation. It’s a conversation among instruments. It’s a conversation among souls.”
Meanwhile, USA Today’s three our of four star album review (May 20, 2003) raved:
“On its first new album in six years, the legendary band delivers an engaging first single that recalls some of its best work of the '70s. ‘All in the Way’ reunites EWF with The Emotions, who graced their classic ‘Boogie Wonderland,’ and features a welcome return of Maurice White's signature kalimba. With horn-kissed ballads and infectious jazz-funk grooves, the band seems to have regained its spark. Philip Bailey is still hitting impossibly high notes. Angie Stone adds her soulful vocals to the easygoing ‘Wonderland,’ and the band sizzles on the hard-driving ‘Dirty.’ It's been a long time coming, but this Promise is a keeper.”
Elsewhere, People Magazine also spotlighted THE PROMISE as a “Critics Choice” review (May 26, 2003), noting:
“…the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers showcase the same elements that made them one of the most important R&B acts of the ‘70s, brassy horns arrangements, exotic, African-accented percussion; and the starkly contrasting lead vocals of founder Maurice White’s mellifluous baritone and Philip Bailey’s still impossibly high falsetto…the creative fire has been rekindled on a musically rich 17-track set (including five trademark instrumental interludes) that blows away most of today’s R&B.”
THE PROMISE boasts a lineup that mixes hot young talent with the longtime pillars of the band: founder and co-producer MAURICE WHITE, brother VERDINE WHITE on bass, percussionist RALPH JOHNSON, and the golden-throated vocalist PHILIP BAILEY.
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