Ep 15: Earth, Wind and Fire

This week we celebrate more than evaluate the great Earth, Wind and Fire and, as Jeff rightly points out, the one word that comes to mind is JOY. This is the perfect way to describe this music, which is irresistibly catchy and energetic but also extremely innovative and sophisticated. While Earth, Wind and Fire were extremely popular in their day, their historical importance and lasting impact is often overlooked when it comes to “greatest of all time” lists and the like. In this episode, we examine the band’s entire output in an attempt to rectify this and along the way, we learn… Who Maurice and Verdine White are and why they will forever remain absolute legends, both musically and personally How EWF may have had a hand in inventing what we now call “Yacht Rock” Why George Clinton is full of “hot air” What is the surprising source behind Verdine White’s stage energy (Hint: It’s not cocaine or any other drug, he’s way more cultured than that) How Doug Henning and David Copperfield helped create EWF’s magical stage show What EWF song you definitely don’t want to play at your wedding Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.