Earth Wind Fire

Foreword by Steve Harvey and afterword by David Foster The Grammy-winning founder of the legendary pop/R&B/soul/funk/disco group tells his story and charts the rise of his legendary band in this sincere memoir that captures the heart and soul of an artist whose groundbreaking sound continues to influence music today. With its dynamic horns, contrasting vocals, and vivid stage shows, Earth, Wind & Fire was one of the most popular acts of the late twentieth century—the band “that changed the sound of black pop” (Rolling Stone)—and its music continues to inspire modern artists including Usher, Jay-Z, Cee-Lo Green, and Outkast. At last, the band’s founder, Maurice White, shares the story of his success. Now in his seventies, White reflects on the great blessings music has brought to his life and the struggles he’s endured: his mother leaving him behind in Memphis when he was four; learning to play the drums with Booker T. Jones; moving to Chicago at eighteen and later Los Angeles after leaving the Ramsey Lewis Trio; forming EWF, only to have the original group fall apart; working with Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond; his diagnosis of Parkinson’s; and his final public performance with the group at the 2006 Grammy Awards. Through it all, White credits his faith for his amazing success and guidance in overcoming his many challenges. Keep Your Head to the Sky is an intimate, moving, and beautiful memoir from a man whose creativity and determination carried him to great success, and whose faith enabled him to savor every moment.

We might think humans have control over our environment, but Mother Nature has proven us wrong again and again. Earth, Wind, Fire, and Rain: Real Tales of Temperamental Elements tells the story of five of America’s deadliest natural disasters that were made worse by human error, ignorance, and greed. For example, in the fall of 1871, loggers and farmers chopped trees and burned brush in the vast forest around Peshtigo, Wisconsin. Fire was a tool they believed they could control. But on October 8, 1 million acres burned in the deadliest fire in American history. Later that century, meteorologists mistakenly predicted clearing skies for New York City on March 10, 1888. Then, two devilish storm fronts collided in what was called the Great White Hurricane. The blizzard brought New Yorkers to their knees and unprepared city leaders were powerless to help. Powerless too were the residents of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on May 31, 1889. A private club of wealthy businessmen owned a dam upriver from Johnstown. The club modified the dam to improve recreation on their private lake, but these changes weakened the structure. When heavy rains fell, the dam burst, flooding Johnstown with 20 million tons of water. Residents of San Francisco had no warning when a massive earthquake struck on April 18, 1906. It toppled buildings, ruptured gas mines and ignited fires. Years of political corruption had underfunded the fire department, leaving it without the equipment or training to quench the inferno, and San Francisco burned. In the 1920s, farmers transformed the dry, windy southern Plains by digging up the buffalo grass and planting millions of acres of wheat. But nature fought back by turning this breadbasket into a Dust Bowl. On April 14, 1935, Black Sunday, a 200-mile cloud of dirt buried fields, livestock, and people. Peoples’ choices did not cause these disasters, but they did give the forces of nature an extra nudge. However, tragedy sparked reforms in weather forecasting, soil and forest management, and emergency preparation. But remember—no one can control nature. So be prepared to get out of the way when disaster strikes. This is the tenth book in a series called Mystery & Mayhem, which features true tales that whet kids’ appetites for history by engaging them in genres with proven track records—mystery and adventure. History is made of near misses, unexplained disappearances, unsolved mysteries, and bizarre events that are almost too weird to be true—almost! The Mystery and Mayhem series delves into these tidbits of history to provide kids with a jumping off point into a lifelong habit of appreciating history. The five true tales told within Earth, Wind, Fire, and Rain are paired with maps, photographs, and timelines that lend authenticity and narrative texture to the stories. A glossary and resources page provide the opportunity to practice using essential academic tools. These nonfiction narratives use clear, concise language with compelling plots that both avid and reluctant readers will be drawn to.

Earth, Wind & Fire has sold some ninety million records and won eight Grammy awards. But while its charismatic founder, Maurice White, and Philip Bailey, one of popular music’s greatest voices, are remarkable musical talents, their relentless work ethic exhausted and emotionally gutted the group. Now, Bailey shares the inside story of his professional and spiritual journey, from his origins to the band’s meteoric rise to stardom, and from its breakup to its triumphant reinvention. Shining Star will mesmerize the supergroup’s millions of fans and anyone who loves an inspiring story about what happens when real life exceeds your dreams.

Earth, Wind and Fire follows twelve generations of one family, starting with a kidnapped girl in Shelford, Nottinghamshire in the east midlands of England and ending, twelve generations later, in Australia.

Funk used to be a bad word. That was then. Now, funk is a pervasive style of music that has earned its rightful place alongside such other aural American art forms such as folk, blues, jazz and rock 'n roll. What's more, for those who free themselves, funk is a positive state of consciousness that brings together mind, body and soul in a quasi-spiritual experience of mesmerizing intensity. It took quite a while for funk to gain the respect it deserves. As with most other American music forms of the 20th century, funk remained a predominantly black phenomenon until the white public caught up and embraced it some 20 years after the fact. It had to survive the psychedelic 1960s, the disco 1970s and the new wave 1980s. This long-overdue book is a labor of love from a devout lifelong funk enthusiast. Everything Is on the One: The First Guide to Funk is designed to serve as an eye-opener for the uninitiated and as a reference guide for those already indoctrinated. The following pages thoroughly examine every aspect of funk through the inclusion of assorted text, reviews and lists. Everyone from J.B., Sly Stone and Hendrix to Clinton, Prince and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Kool & the Gang and the Isley Brothers to the Bar-Kays and Slave to Run-D.M.C. and Dr. Dre to Stanley Clarke and Tom Browne to Muddy Waters and Stevie Ray Vaughan to the Talking Heads and Aerosmith is covered. There isn't really any specific formula for funk. But, you must have the right attitude and the music has to be on THE ONE. THE ONE stands for the first beat of standard four/four time in music (four counts per measure). Funk jumps on the first beat with a hard accent and then lays back in the groove for counts two through four. So just about everything in this book is on THE ONE. The content of this book is intended to be opinionated. It is designed to stimulate intelligent debate as to myriad topics that fall under the umbrella of funk. The objective is not to bash musical achievements or pursue character assassinations, but at the same time, measures are necessary to ensure the book's integrity. There are far too many music publications out there that find pandering to the industry and soft-pedaling issues seemingly unavoidable. This isn't one of them. By the same token, exceptional artists and outstanding work are given their just due. At this point, a word of caution is in order. Funk is extremely addictive and frequently results in an unquenchable desire to fill your ear hole with thumpin', bumpin', slammin', jammin' tunes. It can be an expensive habit, but always an immensely rewarding one. So slap your favorite jams into your stereo or iPod and read to the rhythmic rush while The First Guide of Funk does it to your eyeballs baby bobba!