Hey, I need to get a head start on giving thanks and celebrating the genius that is Maurice White. December 19, the Leader of the Mightiest Elements of the Universe turns 68....I still dont believe it....

One interesting footnote....When EWF moved to Columbia and released their first album on their label, it was 1972...and Maurice White was 30 years old....

So many artists start so young they are pushed out there or are unbelievable geniuses they cant be held back (Prince, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder to name but a few), but rare is the artist who bides his time and waits until he is ready to create a real road-map for his future.

Maurice is in many ways an unsung Legend, but for so many he has been a true inspiration, creating music with integrity and substance. The music will live on forever.....
[Edited 12/18/09 14:01pm]

Co-Sign

Damn, gotta love Mr. White!!!! Happy B-Day!!!!!

Happy birthday to Maurice!!!!

Happy Birthday!!

funkpill said:

~svn seven

A bit deeper history from his days as the drummer for the Ramsey Lewis Trio...



...Girl Talk & Uhuru


To eventually producing Ramsey Lewis...



...Sun Goddess


Thanks for the great quality music over the years.


Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

Sun Goddess is a bit of heaven.

Happy birthday, Mr. White.

Although I love Phil Baily, all of my favorite EW&F songs have Maurice on lead vocals.

theAudience said:

~svn seven

The Audience opens up a whole nother area in which Maurice excelled....Production.

Hey, Maurice was a virtual clinic in how to get it done, just right....

Free,
Best of My Love
Dont Ask My Neighbors

are just 3 songs from his outside production work that glow....His production style found a way to incorporate so many elements of musical genres in one song, but still make that song a cohesive musical journey...songs that still had energy and substance even if you stripped away the vocal track.


Although not my all-time favorite EWF joint, I think when you break away the layers of a song like "Fantasy" you understand what creativity and balance is when it comes to Production. Work that truly sounds fresh 32 years plus after it was created...despite the "enhancements" in studio recording equipment etc...that have been introduced in the intervening years....
[Edited 12/19/09 5:23am]

Allnall said:

Earth, Wind & Fire (with numerous bandmate changes) had been around 15 years before the broke out with "Open Your Eyes" - yes "Head To The Sky" was a platinum - but their 74 album album really cemented their growing fan base. The group I heard in 69 didn't song like anything like the group I heard in 74'. This was the point I was trying to make about many of these younger artist (Key's thread) don't have the time or place to learn/develop their craft. Most of those R&B/Funk/Soul (artist/bands/singers in general back in the day) groups followed E,W, & Fire path to success.

Happy B' Day to Mr.White.