Earth, Wind & Fire

When drummer Maurice White founded the band Earth, Wind & Fire in Chicago in 1970, he surely didn't think that ten years later, the avant-garde jazz-funk band would become one of the biggest hit machines of R&B. The first two albums, "Earth, Wind And Fire" (1971) and "The Need Of Love" (1971), which collectors are highly sought after, do not sound like hits at all, but they do offer subtle soul jazz sounds. No wonder: Jean Carn and her husband Doug were also involved. When White brought charismatic lead singer Philip Bailey on board, the sound would soon change significantly. The rest is chart history.