10
The three elements of his
astrological chart provided a new
name for Maurice White’s band in
1970. Earth, Wind & Fire became
one of the great sensations of the
decade and beyond, combining
spectacular visuals with a highly
innovative sound blending R&B,
jazz, rock, and African influences.
Born December 19, 1941 in
Memphis, Maurice began singing in
his church’s gospel choir when he
was six.
“I came from the ghetto in
Memphis, and during that time
there was a drum and bugle corps
in the area. They had real shiny
suits, marching through the
neighborhood, and I wanted to join
the band so I could get one of the
suits,”
he says.
“I got into the
band. That was the start of my
instrumental career, in the sense
of playing drums.”
At 11, Maurice
3. Earth, Wind & Fire
Mighty Mighty
(Maurice White-Verdine White)
Columbia 4-46007
was performing with equally
precocious keyboardist Booker T.
Jones.
In 1960, White moved to Chicago,
enrolling at Crane Junior College
and then the Chicago Conser-
vatory of Music. He hired on as
Chess Records’ house drummer in
‘63.
“When I auditioned, I brought
down all the guys from school, which
was about 20 musicians,”
he says.
“They chose five of us. They let
everybody else go.”
At Chess,
White kept flawless time behind
Little Milton, Fontella Bass, Jackie
Ross, and Muddy Waters. Billy
Stewart was a favorite.
“He always
gave me a lot of solos,”
says
Maurice.
“I always felt like a hero
at the end of the record.”
Pianist
Ramsey Lewis, Chess’ top jazzman,
hired White as his trio’s new
drummer in 1967.
