I was only 12 when I 1st heard 'em. My father was REALLY into Jazz and stuff like that, so all we could hear is Idris Mohammed, Herbie Hencock, Sarah Vaughn, Duke Ellington and many of them Jazz makers but we neva heard him play something FUNKY. Anyway, I told him 2 play something we youngsters could feel(now can you expect us to listen to Jazz while all we could feel is Bobby Brown, Mary J Blige, Tevin Cambell, Salt N' Pepa and En Vouge? lol) he played "Mighty Mighty" which is the 1st thang I heard from them, I didn't understand a thing but something about the song catpured my attention and I became a fan eva since.

if I wasn't a fan my father would have given me up for adoption when I was little.

I actually remember when my parents were my age and going to see E,W,and F.

My Pops driving His El Dorado use to Pump there Jams on our Journeys through New York State.and My Pops on the free-way would Hit His Horn as a Tribute to them.I was forever Hooked on them as a Kid.and when I saw there live stuff on TV I was Hooked.

i guess since birth...my dad's a huge fan of ew & f, so it musta rubbed off on me.

I became a fan thru my older brother in
the early 80's.soul/funk from late 70's & early
80's was the only music played in our house when
I was a kid.I remember beeing fascinated with
Fantasy,Philip Bayleys high falsetto
at the end of the song.
My bro took me 2 see them live in 1990.
After that I gradually got all of their albums.
My favourite song is Shining star
from my favourite album That´s the way of the world
/peace Manki

i remember when i would visit my grandma on weekends when i was 11 or 12, she had a radio and the "that's the way of the world" album...whenever she'd be feelin mellow she'd ask me 2 put on her song which was the masterpiece we know as "reasons"... needless 2 say i've been a fan ever since lol

They were too queer for their own good even in their disco days.
Gimme that old EW&F, what is that itty bitty instrumental thingie called on that box?

Now THAT was kewl, even though it was just one minute...

gooeythehamster said:

you dug Maurice White Jamming on the Kalimba as well Huh?

This is sort of embarressing but it would be when I saw them in that sorry ass Bee Gee's "Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" movie as an 11 year old. They did "Got To Get You Into My Life" and was blown away by their whole look and sound. I got my moms to drive me to the local K-Mart where I found the then just released "Best of Volume One" that also included two new songs, "September" and the cut from the Bee Gees movie. That was when I became exposed to all the hits from the 70's: Fantasy, That's The Way..., Shinning Star, etc. Within days I was back at K Mart buying the other 3 EWF albums they had in stock; "Graditude" "All n All" and "Spirit" By the time "I AM" came out some months later I had picked up all of their previous albums. It was a combo of their album covers, upbeat songs and message that hooked me. EWF was the first real "grown up" band I fell in love with. They were pretty much my gateway into the real music world. This band will always be special to me because of it.

Started loving EWF in the mid 70's! I was a kid and "That's the Way of the World" knocked me out!

They are the only band that I regret never seeing live in their hey-day.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

ditto

I just saw them last year at the Cal Expo (a block from my apt) in Sacramento. I won tickets on the radio and called my dad immediately, jumping up and down. He almost cried! We had a great time. He drove the three hours on his Harley after work to come. My roommate at the time could hear the whole concert from our patio! "Let's groove tonight..." God, it was electric. We were in the general seating, but everyone could see Verdine White's grin a mile away! He was bouncing, running, smiling

Best concert of my life so far

intha916 said:

I've long said that their appearance in that gawd awful movie was the lone redeeming factor of it. The way they reinvented "Got To Get You Into My Life" is liberating.

I think the first time I became aware of Maurice and the guys was when family and neighbors would play their music in the early 70s when I was a little kid. But I wasn't a big fan until That's The Way Of The World in 1975. That album to me is as good as ANY album they ever released, and better than most of their records. There's a ton of meat on its bones.


¥
[This message was edited Wed Apr 16 14:13:11 PDT 2003 by Supernova]

INSATIABLE said:

I was at the show too. Good to see another sac orger

intha916 said:

WHOOP WHOOP

INSATIABLE said:

Did you attend "Erotic City" in Jan of 2002? It was a prince themed party I threw at a club in old sac. We had a full house (about 140) I met a few other orgers from the area that night.
[This message was edited Wed Apr 16 14:30:53 PDT 2003 by intha916]

intha916 said:

We have actually traded notes about this... it sounded cool, but I moved to Sacramento because of my job relocation in July of last year. We should do something like that again! Eve if it's just a house BBQ or something. What do you think? (excuse me for the late responses, I am actually at work right now )

INSATIABLE said:

Ok I now I do remember your note. Actually I plan on hosting another one next fall. I'll keep you posted.

intha916 said:

Excellent! I'd love to help out if you needed it. Just let me know. It'll be a blast

I think I became a fan in 1975,when the 'That's The Way Of The World' album was dominating the music scene."Shining Star" was the first song by them that I got into.It's so funky! I've been a diehard fan ever since.


Can't wait for their new album 'The Promise' due May 20!!

Growing up on Earth Wind & Fire was the foundation to appreciating music. I used to play all the records and tapes that my parents owned. Something about their music when you are young, and how you knew it was something important and awesome. Still has an affect on me today. I went with my parents to see them I think it was about 5 years ago in Oakland. Going with my parents was classic in itself. Even though we weren't close to the stage, you still felt like you were a part of the excitement. The show was good. The Essential 2 cd set is a must have for capturing their career up to now. Also have the box set in my collection.

"Something about their music when you are young, and how you knew it was something important and awesome. "

Well said

I can't remember ever being without Earth, Wind & Fire. I think it safe to say I grew up one.

IMHO the Greatest Band Ever.they are My Beatles.

intha916 said:

So true

Mr.Maxxx said:[quote]"IMHO the Greatest Band Ever.they are My Beatles."[quote]

Sho nuff!

Me and my young bruthas ALWAYS have the passion of listening 2 something(esp when its uplifting and we like it) and my father would play 4 us EW&F so we could stay in the house. 70's music were to much 4 us but this one was easy even tho we didn't understand a thang they say, something strange keeps us listening till the record stop. I neva felt about that about any other artist along with Prince & Marvin Gaye.

mistermaxxx said:

Thats very intersting from him to do! I love it when artists use EXOTIC instruments. I really dug him when he play that thang,,,its really funny that he didn't knew its name when he use 2 play it in his early years.

I guess I was born into it. I'm thirty three now and I can't remember a time when I wasn't a fan of their music.

Oh..
I'd say when I 1st heard "Mighty Mighty", which came out in 1974, when I was "approximately" 6 years old..

'Shining star"...