The multi platinum-selling R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire hail from Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1969 by the late Maurice White, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead as The Salty Peppers, the band was rechristened with its famous moniker as the mighty elements of the universe in the early 1970s — adding White’s brother Verdine and a number of other musicians before releasing their self-titled debut album as Earth, Wind & Fire in 1971.

Maurice White reorganized the group in 1972 with a new lineup that included Verdine, along key early members such as vocalist Philip Bailey and percussionist Ralph Johnson. Though their lineup has changed throughout the decades, Earth, Wind & Fire continued to pioneer their genre-hopping sound with hits like September, the chart-topping Shining Star, Let’s Groove and Boogie Wonderland. The band has sold more than 90 million albums around the world and won six Grammy Awards on their way to becoming one of the best-selling groups of all time.