Im The Stone - Earth Wind And Fire(1979)

Earth Wind And Fire - Im The Stone(1979)

From The Album: Am I

Born in Memphis, Maurice White attended Tennessee State University, where he was a member of the school's marching band. He moved to Chicago, Illinois and began his music career as a session drummer for Chess Records. Around 1966 he became the drummer for The Ramsey Lewis Trio.

In 1969 Maurice left The Ramsey Lewis Trio, and joined two friends, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, to form a songwriting team which wrote songs for commercials in the Chicago area. The three friends got a recording contract with Capitol Records, and called themselves The Salty Peppers; they had a marginal hit in the Midwestern area with their single "La La Time". The Salty Peppers' second single, "Uh Huh Yeah", didn't fare as well, and Maurice decided it was time for a change of location, and a change in the band's name, which became Earth, Wind & Fire.

[edit] Earth, Wind & Fire
White moved the band to Los Angeles in 1970, and added a number of new members, making the band a ten-piece. Two of White's brothers joined at this time: bassist Verdine and drummer Fred. They experienced success with fifteen hit singles and twenty-six gold and platinum albums.

Maurice White is responsible for incorporating the sound of the kalimba (a thumb piano of African origin) and the Phoenix Horns (comprised of Louis Satterfield, Rahmlee Michael Davis, Michael Harris and Don Myrick) into the music of Earth, Wind & Fire.

White has produced many famous recording artists, including Barbra Streisand, The Emotions, Ramsey Lewis, Jennifer Holliday, The Tubes, Deniece Williams, and Neil Diamond. He also worked with many Japanese and international artists, such as Charito and Urban Knights together with Ramsey Lewis.

He released a solo album in 1985, entitled Maurice White.