List of Earth, Wind & Fire band members

Also with Chicago.

Four line-ups of Earth, Wind & Fire performing in 1982, 2004, 2009, 2015 and 2022

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American multi-genre band, founded by Maurice White (vocals, drums, percussion) in 1969. The band's original lineup included Maurice, his brother Verdine White (bass), guitarist Michael Beal, pianists and vocalists Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, percussionist Yackov Ben Israel, vocalist Sherry Scott, trumpeter Leslie Drayton, trombonist Alexander Thomas and saxophonist Chester Washington.

The band, since Maurice's death in 2016, currently consists of Verdine (a constant member), vocalists/percussionists Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson (both since 1972) and B. David Whitworth (since 1996), keyboardist Myron McKinley and drummer John Paris (both since 2001), lead guitarist Morris O'Connor (since 2008), vocalist Philip Doron Bailey (since 2009) and rhythm guitarist Serg Dimitrijevic (since 2012).

History

1969: Maurice White founded Earth, Wind & Fire with his friends Wade Flemons (vocals) and Don Whitehead (bass and keyboards) as a songwriting trio known as "The Salty Peppers". After releasing two singles the band moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, adding singer Sherry Scott, percussionist Yackov Ben Israel, and Maurice's brother Verdine on bass. The band soon changed its name to Earth, Wind & Fire. After auditioning in L.A., the band added Michael Beal on guitar, Chester Washington on reeds, Leslie Drayton on trumpet, and Alex Thomas on trombone.

1972: After releasing its second album the White brothers completely rebuilt the band, adding vocalist Helena Davis (soon replaced by Jessica Cleaves), woodwind player Ronnie Laws, guitarist Roland Bautista, keyboardist Larry Dunn, vocalist Philip Bailey and percussionist Ralph Johnson. After releasing another album, Laws and Bautista left the band. Laws was replaced by Bailey's school friend Andrew Woolfolk, and Bautista was replaced by Al McKay and Johnny Graham. This lineup recorded a new album.

1973: Following the new album's release, Jessica Cleaves left the band and was not replaced.

1974: the band was joined by Maurice and Verdine's brother Fred White as codrummer.

1975: the band was expanded to feature a horn section, called the EWF or Phenix Horns, which featured Don Myrick on saxophone, Louis "Lui Lui" Satterfield on trombone, Rahmlee Michael Davis on trumpet, and Michael Harris on trumpet.

1981: Al McKay left and was replaced by the returning Bautista.

1984: After releasing three more albums, Maurice put the band on hiatus

1987: The band returned with existing members Verdine and Maurice White, Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey and Andrew Woolfolk, and new members guitarists/vocalists Sheldon Reynolds and Dick Smith, keyboardist Vance Taylor, and drummer Sonny Emory, as well as a new horn section dubbed Earth, Wind & Fire Horns which consisted of Gary Bias on the saxophone, Raymond Lee Brown on the trumpet, and Reggie Young on flugelhorn and trombone.

1991: Smith left the band.

1992-1994, the band was joined by second keyboardist Fred Ravel. Morris Pleasure replaced Vance Taylor in 1993, playing keyboards and bass, and David Romero played percussion between 1993 and 2002.

1996: B. David Whitworth joined on percussion and vocals in 1996.

1998: Robert Brookins joined on second keyboards.

1999: Emory was replaced by Gorden Campbell

2001: Morris Pleasure left and was replaced by Myron McKinley. Bobby Gonzales joined as second guitarist and John Paris replaced Campbell in 2001.

2002: Sheldon Reynolds, David Romero and Bobby Gonzales all departed, replaced by guitarists John Johnson and Greg "G-Mo" Moore, percussionist Daniel de los Reyes, and Kimberly Brewer as female vocalist.

2004: Reynolds, Romero and Gonzales all left in 2004, along with keyboardist Robert Brookins. Krystal Bailey joined as female vocalist, though she was soon replaced Kim Johnson.

2004: Vadim Zilbershtein joined as guitarist.

2008: Zilbershtein departed, replaced by Morris O'Connor.

2009: Bailey's son, Philip Bailey Jr. joined as a vocalist in 2009.

2014: Moore left.

2012: the band was joined by Serg Dimitrijevic.

2016: Founder Maurice White died February 4. He was still a member of the band though he hadn't toured regularly for a few years.

Members

Current

Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
Verdine White	1970–1984 1987–present	bass percussion vocals	all releases
Philip Bailey	1972–1984 1987–present	vocals conga percussion kalimba	all releases from Last Days and Time (1972) onwards
Ralph Johnson	1972–1984 1987–present	drums percussion vocals	all releases from Last Days and Time (1972) onwards
B. David Whitworth	1996–present	percussion vocals	The Promise (2003)
Myron McKinley	2001–present	keyboards musical director	Illumination (2005) Now, Then & Forever (2013) Holiday (2014)
John Paris	2001–present	drums vocals	The Promise (2003) Now, Then & Forever (2013) Holiday (2014)
Morris O'Connor	2008–present	lead guitar vocals	Now, Then & Forever (2013) Holiday (2014)
Philip Doron Bailey	2009–present	vocals percussion
Serg Dimitrijevic	2012–present	rhythm guitar vocals	Holiday (2014)

Former

Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
Maurice White	1970–1984 1987–2016 (until his death)	vocals kalimba drums percussion band creator and leader	all releases from Earth, Wind & Fire (1971) to The Classic Christmas Album (2015)
Wade Flemons	1970–1972 (died 1993)	vocals electric piano	Earth, Wind & Fire (1971) The Need of Love (1971)
Michael Beal	1970–1972	guitar harmonica
Leslie Drayton		trumpet
Yackov Ben Israel (aka Phillard Williams)		conga percussion
Sherry Scott		vocals
Alexander Thomas		trombone
Chester Washington		tenor saxophone
Don Whitehead		acoustic/electric pianos vocals
Helena Dixon	1972	vocals	none
Roland Bautista	1972–1973 1981–1984 (died 2012)	lead/rhythm guitar vocals	Last Days and Time (1972) Raise! (1981) Powerlight (1983) Electric Universe (1983)
Jessica Cleaves	1972–1973 (died 2014)	vocals	Last Days and Time (1972) Head to the Sky (1973)
Larry Dunn	1972–1984	keyboards synthesizers minimoog musical director	Last Days and Time (1972) Head to the Sky (1973) Open Our Eyes (1974) That's the Way of the World (1975) Gratitude (1975) Spirit (1976) All 'n All (1977) Faces (1980) Raise! (1981) Powerlight (1983) Electric Universe (1983) Now, Then & Forever (2013)
Ronnie Laws	1972–1973	flute soprano/tenor saxophones	Last Days and Time (1972)
Johnny Graham	1973–1981	lead/rhythm guitar trumpet percussion	Head to the Sky (1973) Open Our Eyes (1974) That's the Way of the World (1975) Gratitude (1975) Spirit (1976) All 'n All (1977) I Am (1979) Faces (1980) Raise! (1981)
Al McKay	1973–1980	lead/rhythm guitar sitar percussion vocals	Head to the Sky (1973) Open Our Eyes (1974) That's the Way of the World (1975) Gratitude (1975) Spirit (1976) All 'n All (1977) I Am (1979) Faces (1980)
Andrew Woolfolk	1973–1984 1987–1993 (died 2022)	flute saxophone percussion	Head to the Sky (1973) Open Our Eyes (1974) That's the Way of the World (1975) Gratitude (1975) Spirit (1976) All 'n All (1977) I Am (1979) Faces (1980) Raise! (1981) Powerlight (1983) Electric Universe (1983) Touch the World (1987) Heritage (1990) Millennium (1993)
Fred White	1974–1984 (died 2023)	drums percussion	That's the Way of the World (1975) Gratitude (1975) Spirit (1976) All 'n All (1977) I Am (1979) Faces (1980) Raise! (1981) Powerlight (1983) Electric Universe (1983)
Beloyd Taylor	1981–1982 (died 2014)	percussion (on tour – played guitar as session musician on albums) vocals	Raise! (1981) Powerlight (1983)
Sonny Emory	1987–1999	drums vocals	Heritage (1990) In the Name of Love (1997)
Sheldon Reynolds	1987–2002 (died 2023)	lead/rhythm guitar vocals	Touch the World (1987) Heritage (1990) Millennium (1993) In the Name of Love (1997)
Dick Smith	1987–1991	lead/rhythm guitar vocals	Heritage (1990)
David Lautrec	1990	keyboards	none
Mike McKnight	1987–1999	technician keyboards	none
Vance Taylor	1987–1993	keyboards musical director
Fred Ravel	1993–1994	keyboards musical director
Morris Pleasure	1993–2001	keyboards bass musical director	In the Name of Love (1997)
David Romero	1993–2002	percussion	In the Name of Love (1997)
Robert Brookins	1998–2004 (died 2009)	keyboards vocals musical director	none
Gorden Campbell	1999–2001	drums
Bobby Gonzales	2001–2002	lead/rhythm guitar vocals
Daniel de los Reyes	2002–2004	percussion	The Promise (2003)
John Johnson		lead/rhythm guitar vocals	none
Kimberly Brewer		vocals
Krystal Bailey	2004
Kim Johnson	2004–2009
Greg "G-Mo" Moore	2002–2014	rhythm guitar vocals
Vadim Zilbershtein	2004–2008	lead guitar vocals

Phenix Horns (1975–1983) / Earth, Wind & Fire Horns (1987–present)

Current

Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
Gary Bias	1987–present	saxophone flute	Millennium (1993) The Promise (2003) Illumination (2005)
Reggie Young	1987–present	trombone	Millennium (1993) In the Name of Love (1997) The Promise (2003) Illumination (2005) Now, Then & Forever (2013) Holiday (2014)
Bobby Burns. Jr	2004–present	trumpet	none

Former

Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
Rahmlee Michael Davis	1975–1983	trumpet	I Am (1979) Faces (1980) Raise! (1981) Powerlight (1983)
Michael Harris	1975–1983	trumpet	Gratitude (1975) Spirit (1976) All 'n All (1977) I Am (1979) Faces (1980) Raise! (1981) Powerlight (1983)
Don Myrick	1975–1983 (died 1993)	saxophone
Louis Satterfield	1975–1983 (died 2004)	trombone
Elmer Brown	1979	trumpet	none
Raymond Lee Brown	1987–2004	trumpet	none

Timeline

Line-ups

The following is a complete chronology of the various line-ups of Earth, Wind & Fire, from the group's inception in 1971 until the present day.

Period	Members	Studio releases
1970–1972	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Michael Beal – guitar, harmonica Leslie Drayton – trumpet Wade Flemons – electric piano, vocals Yackov Ben Israel – conga, percussion Sherry Scott – vocals Alexander Thomas – trombone Chester Washington – tenor saxophone Don Whitehead – acoustic/electric pianos, vocals	Earth, Wind & Fire (1971) The Need of Love (1971)
1972–1973	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Roland Bautista – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Helena Davis – vocals Jessica Cleaves – vocals Larry Dunn – keyboards, synthesizers, minimoog, musical director Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Ronnie Laws – flute, soprano/tenor saxophones	Last Days and Time (1972)
1973	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Jessica Cleaves – vocals Larry Dunn – keyboards, synthesizers, minimoog, musical director Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Johnny Graham – lead/rhythm guitar, trumpet, percussion Al McKay – lead/rhythm guitar, sitar, percussion, vocals Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion	Head to the Sky (1973) Open Our Eyes (1974)
1973–1981	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Larry Dunn – keyboards, synthesizers, minimoog, musical director Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Johnny Graham – lead/rhythm guitar, trumpet, percussion Al McKay – lead/rhythm guitar, sitar, percussion, vocals Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Fred White – drums, percussion	That's the Way of the World (1975) Gratitude (1975) Spirit (1976) All 'n All (1977) I Am (1979) Faces (1980) Earth, Wind & Fire: In Concert (1982) That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75 (2002) Live in Rio (2002)
1981–1982	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Larry Dunn – keyboards, synthesizers, minimoog, musical director Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Johnny Graham – lead/rhythm guitar, trumpet, percussion Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Fred White – drums, percussion Roland Bautista – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Beloyd Taylor – percussion, vocals	Raise! (1981) Powerlight (1983)
1982–1984	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Larry Dunn – keyboards, synthesizers, minimoog, musical director Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Johnny Graham – lead/rhythm guitar, trumpet, percussion Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Fred White – drums, percussion Roland Bautista – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals	Electric Universe (1983)
1984–1987	Hiatus
1987–1991	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals David Lautrec – keyboards Dick Smith – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Vance Taylor – keyboards	Touch the World (1987) Heritage (1990) Live in Japan (1998)
1991–1992	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Vance Taylor – keyboards
1992–1993	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Andrew Woolfolk – flute, saxophone, percussion Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Vance Taylor – keyboards, musical director Fred Ravel – keyboards	Millennium (1993)
1993–1996	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Carl Carwell – vocals Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Fred Ravel – keyboards, musical director Morris Pleasure – keyboards, bass David Romero – percussion	In the Name of Love (1997) Greatest Hits Live (1996) Earth, Wind & Fire: Live (2001)
1996–1998	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Carl Carwell – vocals Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Morris Pleasure – keyboards, bass, musical director David Romero – percussion Mike McKnight – keyboards B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals
1998–1999	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Sonny Emory – drums, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Morris Pleasure – keyboards, bass, musical director David Romero – percussion Mike McKnight – keyboards B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Robert Brookins – keyboards
1999–2001	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Morris Pleasure – keyboards, bass, musical director B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Robert Brookins – keyboards Gorden Campbell – drums	Earth, Wind & Fire: Live By Request (2002)
2001–2002	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals Sheldon Reynolds – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Robert Brookins – keyboards, musical director Bobby Gonzales – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Myron McKinley – keyboards John Paris – drums, vocals Daniel de los Reyes – percussion
2002	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Robert Brookins – keyboards, musical director Bobby Gonzales – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals Myron McKinley – keyboards John Paris – drums, vocals Daniel de los Reyes – percussion Kimberly Brewer – vocals John Johnson – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals
2002–2004	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Robert Brookins – keyboards, musical director Myron McKinley – keyboards John Paris – drums, vocals Daniel de los Reyes – percussion Kimberly Brewer – vocals John Johnson – lead/rhythm guitar, vocals	The Promise (2003)
2004	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Myron McKinley – keyboards, musical director John Paris – drums, vocals Krystal Bailey – vocals Kim Johnson – vocals Greg "G-Mo" Moore – rhythm guitar, vocals Vadim Zilberstein – lead guitar, vocals
2004–2008	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Myron McKinley – keyboards, musical director John Paris – drums, vocals Kim Johnson – vocals Greg "G-Mo" Moore – rhythm guitar, vocals Vadim Zilberstein – lead guitar, vocals	Illumination (2005)
2008–2012	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Myron McKinley – keyboards, musical director John Paris – drums, vocals Kim Johnson – vocals Greg "G-Mo" Moore – rhythm guitar, vocals Philip Bailey, Jr. – vocals, percussion Morris O'Connor – lead guitar, vocals
2012–2016	Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, drums, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Myron McKinley – keyboards, musical director John Paris – drums, vocals Philip Bailey, Jr. – vocals, percussion Morris O'Connor – lead guitar, vocals Serg Dimitrijevic – rhythm guitar, vocals	Now, Then & Forever (2013) Holiday (2014) The Classic Christmas Album (2015)
2016–present	Philip Bailey – vocals, conga, percussion, kalimba Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, vocals B. David Whitworth – percussion, vocals Myron McKinley – keyboards, musical director John Paris – drums, vocals Philip Bailey, Jr. – vocals, percussion Morris O'Connor – lead guitar, vocals Serg Dimitrijevic – rhythm guitar, vocals

References

"Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire, Aug 18, 2015, PNC Bank Arts Center". August 18, 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
^ "MEMBERS". Earth Wind & Fire. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
Hogan, Ed. "The Salty Peppers Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
Washburn, Jim (December 21, 1990). "Sherry Scott Belts Out Thrilling Jazz in Her Rich Alto". Los Angeles Times.
^ Nathan, David (1992). The Eternal Dance. Columbia Records.
^ Huey, Steve. "Earth, Wind & Fire". AllMusic. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
Hagwood Stafford, Ron (June 14, 2010). "Earth, Wind & Fire in their element". Sun Sentinel.
"Freddie Ravel". www.smooth-jazz.de. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
Louie, Jones (August 4, 2009). "Interview with Mo Pleasure". blogtalkradio.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
"Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White -- Dead at 74". TMZ. 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2024-04-14.

Earth, Wind & Fire

Notable members

Current	Verdine White Philip Bailey Ralph Johnson
Former	Maurice White Wade Flemons Roland Bautista Jessica Cleaves Larry Dunn Ronnie Laws Al McKay Andrew Woolfolk Fred White Sonny Emory Sheldon Reynolds Freddie Ravel Morris Pleasure Robert Brookins Daniel de los Reyes Kim Johnson Greg Moore

Studio albums

Soundtrack albums

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

Live albums

Gratitude
Greatest Hits Live
That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75
Live in Rio

Videos

Compilations

Singles

Lists

Category

Categories: