Earth, Wind & Fire lit up The Rady Shell in Jacobs Park with their signature blend of feel-good funk, sultry-smooth R&B, and spiritually infused soul. However, bassist Verdine White, one of the original members, is temporarily sidelined due to medical issues.
On July 6, torchbearers Philip Bailey Sr. (vocals, percussion) and Ralph Johnson (vocals, drums, percussion) led the 12-piece group through crowd-pleasing songs like After the Love Has Gone and 1975’s That’s the Way of the World, as well as dance-friendly hits like the pulsating opener Shining Star and the soulful Serpentine Fire (one of the best uses of cowbell in a song ever).
Bailey told the audience early on that they would be performing songs that were popular on the charts and those that were particularly meaningful to them (poeticism intended). This was particularly evident in Kalimba Story / Sing a Message to You, as Bailey softly plucks his kalimba, an African thumb piano, in remembrance of the band’s founder, co-lead singer, and principal songwriter Maurice White, who died in 2016.
Throughout Earth, Wind & Fire’s incredible 56-year existence, the band’s unique sound has been significantly influenced by Bailey’s four-octave falsetto, which is still one of the most astonishing musical instruments. He had numerous chances to aim high this evening, especially on Brazilian Rhyme (Beijo).
However, Bailey wasn’t always flawless; he had trouble hitting some of the high notes on Reasons, a song that is extremely difficult for any vocalist, and stuttered on certain low-register vocals, such in Got to Get You Into My Life. Nevertheless, the 74-year-old released such a sharp note at least twice that The Shell’s decision to use plastic wine cups appeared wise.
Ray McKinley held his own excellently, his solo full of funky flare and merging perfectly into an instrumental interlude that allowed the band to showcase their skills, even though Verdine White’s captivating stage presence and brilliant bass lines were missing.
B. David Whitworth, who has been in the band since 1996 but is not an original member, is as impressive and deserving of an all-purpose player award. The percussionist/vocalist took over the tenor portions of Love’s Holiday, smashed cymbals behind his back, threw tambourines into the air, and received applause for his humorous dance antics during Boogie Wonderland.
Naturally, no assessment of this group would be complete without mentioning the band’s ubiquitous smooth harmonies and its unmatched horns, Bobby Burns Jr. (trumpet), Reggie Young (trombone), and Gary Bias (tenor sax). Songs like Jupiter and Sing a Song were fueled by the brass trio’s tight, lively work, while masterpieces like After the Love Has Gone were enhanced by backing vocals performed by Johnson and Bailey’s son, among others. In order to free up dad to focus on the congas and possibly establish the groundwork for Earth, Wind & Fire’s future, Philip Bailey Jr. also took over as lead on Serpentine Fire and Let’s Groove.
The three components in Maurice White’s astrological chart served as the inspiration for the 1969 founding of Earth, Wind & Fire. Starting with their 1970 self-titled debut, the band went on to make 23 albums that sold 100 million copies worldwide, had eight No. 1 singles, won nine Grammy Awards, and made them one of the best-selling musicians of all time. For their enormous contribution to the arts and culture, they were honored with the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in 2019 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
The group’s hit-filled 90-minute set made that legacy very evident. One of those performances when fans say, “Boy, I sure wish they played,” was this one.
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From the heavenly Fantasy and Boogie Wonderland to Let’s Groove and the anthemic September, Earth, Wind & Fire left it all on stage as they concluded the happy evening with a dizzying disco-dance blitz that had almost everyone dancing. No one wanted to get off what felt like a rollercoaster powered by funk.
The band returned for the improbable encore of In the Stone, a lesser-known song from 1979 sI Am, as the audience recovered its breath and relished in the trip. If you focused on the lyrics, which read, “Deep inside your heart for you to keep / Lies a spark of light that never sleeps / The greatest love you ever known / Love is, love is written in the stone,” it might have seemed anticlimactic to some, especially considering the explosive closer that came before it. The band Earth, Wind & Fire is the perfect choice to leave you with a positive, loving message.
Longtime music writer Donovan Roche frequently contributes to the Times of San Diego. For story ideas, send an email to [email protected].
