Earth, Wind & Fire thrives as three members from the legendary band’s salad days continue to perform.
Bassist Verdine White, vocalist Philip Bailey and drummer Ralph Johnson have been at it for more than a half-century.
“We’re still keeping it together,” White said. “We love what we do. There’s not a band out there like us.”
Soul, jazz, pop, gospel, rock, psychedelia, folk and African are some of the sounds that make up the Earth, Wind and Fire sonic potpourri.
“We’ve always went out and did whatever we wanted to do,” White said. “There were never any limits. We would just go for it. We didn’t look around to see what anyone else was doing. We had our own agenda.”
The band that formed in 1969 in Chicago has enjoyed commercial success and critical acclaim.
“Shining Star,” “That’s the Way of the World,” “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” and “Let’s Groove” are just some of the enduring group’s hits.
“It’s been an amazing run,” White said. “We’re still together after all of this time. But I think back to when it all began. Part of it is that we formed at a very exciting, inspired time.”
Earth, Wind & Fire, which will perform Friday and Saturday at the Hard Rock, came of age during the revolutionary period in music history. The Beatles were coming to a creative halt, the Rolling Stones were at their peak. “Flower Power” and the eclectic Detroit sound dominated the charts. And then there was Woodstock.
“It definitely was an incredible time,” White said. “The world changed. It was an inspirational period, a radical time in the history of our country and so radical for the bands.”
Earth, Wind & Fire was off to a running start with its eponymous album in 1971 and the band never looked back.
The Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers have had an inordinate amount of success in the studio. The band, which has sold more than 100 million albums, possessed an uncommon commercial touch.
But Earth, Wind & Fire was never a studio act. The best way to experience the act is live.
It’s hard to believe that Macaulay Culkin is 45.
The star of “Home Alone” is on tour behind the 35th anniversary of the classic holiday film.
“Home Alone” will be screened Sunday at Ocean.
Culkin will share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, his favorite memories and offer insight into why the film has become a timeless favorite.
Has any John Hughes film aged as well as “Home Alone?”
Atlantic City is arguably the culinary capital of New Jersey.
Two new Stephen Starr restaurants at Ocean Resort have helped raise the quality quotient: Chez Frites, the contemporary French bistro and Sunny’s, a terrific lunch and breakfast spot.
Starr’s destinations justifiably score quite a bit of noise. But there’s an under the radar gem that diners should be aware of and that’s Park Place Prime.
The Bally’s steakhouse is top tier. The dry aged New York strip, medium rare, is perfectly charred on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. The steaks are among the finest in Atlantic City.
But there is more to Park Place Prime than satisfying cuts of meat.
The lobster truffle mac and cheese is not just a perfect accompaniment to the steaks but the decadently rich side is sublime. The go-to appetizer is the seafood ceviche, with shrimp, scallops, lobster, citrus de gallo avocado and house made tortilla chips. The views of the ocean and casino glitz are tremendous. It’s not a gamble to spend the evening at Park Place Prime.