The other day, as they prepared for their Live Nation Las Vegas-presented residency show at The Venetian; Earth, Wind & Fire’s trio of surviving original members* – Verdine White (bass guitar), Philip Bailey (vocals and percussion), and Ralph Johnson (percussion, keyboards, vocals) – answer my queries on an array of subjects, such as who’s currently bringing the funk, how “Fantasy” (1977) got its trippy lyrics, and how they’ve kept us dancing, for nearly a half-century.

ShulmanSays:  Y'all have performed for presidents, royalty, and the rest of us. Is there an audience that stands out above all others?

Verdine White:  Oh, man…

Philip Bailey:  Every single performance for us, they just continue to build and grow. We're always giving it from our hearts, and each audience makes it such a special experience for us.

Philip, with the retirement and subsequent passing of Maurice, you sing both the high and low register parts. Does this ever get confusing or exhausting or--

Bailey:  Yeah, like right now, my voice is tired; but but no - it's a joy. We just have a great time, and I have a lot of help with all the guys singing. Ralph and Verdine, and Tig and Phil.

Verdine, you have what has got to be one the most infectious smiles I've ever seen. Where do you get your enthusiasm and your energy?

White:  I just love what I do!  I love being with these guys. We were off for three weeks, and I missed them. I was ready to go to work!  Do you know what I mean?

Here’s another for Verdine…  You and Eddie del Barrio are credited with co-writing “Fantasy,” with your late brother, Maurice; and I’ve gotta say, those are some trippy-ass lyrics!  So I guess my question to you is, "What were y’all smoking, and can you hook me up?”

[All three laugh.]

Ralph Johnson:  That’s funny.  (You’re funny!)

White:  Yeah.  That was good… [Flashes that world-famous smile.]  Well, you know it's not only trippy lyrics, but the song…  It's an international song.  One of my favorites, personally (for obvious reasons). And the audience?  They still love it!

Is it possible that I actually saw a guy in your band kick the cymbal of the drums..?

Johnson:  Oh, that would have been David Whitworth, one of our vocalists.

Well, that was just sensational.

White:  Absolutely…

What songs are y’all most proud of writing and recording?

Johnson:  You’ve gotta say “That's the Way of the World”–

White:  Yeah…

Johnson:   “September”–

White:  Right. Yeah. Sure.

Johnson: “Shining Star”

What do you feel is Earth, Wind, and Fire's legacy?

Johnson:  It's still being written.

White:  That's right.

Bailey:  Right!

Johnson:  It's still developing.

White:  And we're just adding on with The Venetian. We're adding it onto our music!

Continued and concluded in Part 2...

Earth, Wind & Fire
The Venetian Theatre | The Venetian Las Vegas
Through Saturday, May 12th
Click HERE for info and tickets

Get into it!
#The12thOfNever

[Editor’s Note: Maurice White – the brilliant founder of Earth, Wind & Fire; after whose astrological chart the band takes its name – passed on February 4, 2016]

The world’s greatest hip-hop collective returns this weekend with the second edition of the history-making WU-TANG CLAN: THE SAGA CONTINUES… THE LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY