Earth, Wind & Fire band coming to Cebu is “original, not a hoax”
Int’l acts coming soon this April & May: rock band Toto and RnB group Boyz II Men
As soon as rumors surfaced that the Earth, Wind & Fire group flying in to
An American session musician, who has been a featured guitarist in performances with Earth, Wind and Fire members, came forward as well to set the record straight. “I saw it being posted on Istorya.net, and I had to come here and dispute that,” said Bruce Conte, who’s originally from LA but is now Cebu-based and playing regularly at Outpost.
The rumors were purportedly circulated via text and email. Part of the email read: “The group coming here is not the real, original Earth, Wind & Fire... The group will perform EWF songs and whose lead singer sang at one point with the original band for a while.”
“It’s not a hoax,” said Conte, reckoning that this might have ensued from the fact that there exist two groups today, both consisting of Earth, Wind & Fire founding members. Vocalist Philip Bailey is on top of the other EWF group, while guitarist Al McKay leads the one that is coming to
And to say that Al McKay, Conte said, had a brief stint with EWF is the biggest error of them all. After playing for Ike & Tina Turner revue, the late great Sammy Davis, Jr., among other black-pop trailblazers, McKay spent almost a decade with EWF, during the band’s musical peak from early ‘70’s into the ‘80s. Along with EWF founder Maurice White, he penned the chart-topping tracks “September” and “Singasong.” McKay also co-produced the dance anthem “Boogie Wonderland,” which was recently revived via the blockbuster animated film, “Happy Feet.” McKay’s musicality apparently has not been confined within EWF as he also co-wrote The Emotions’ smash hit “The Best of My Love.”
On this Philippine tour, Al McKay is joined by a reconstituted band, which is also collectively called as the “Al McKay All-Stars,” with another original EWF member Michael Harris (trumpet) in the line-up. Others are Tim Owens (vocals), DeVere Duckett (vocals), Claude Woods (vocals), Ed Wynne (saxophone), Bill Churchville (trumpet), Ryan Porter (trombone), Freddie Flewelen (bass), David Leach (percussion), Aaron Haggerty (drums), Benjamin Dowling (keyboards and Bryan Hudson (keyboards).
According to Rene Mercado, one of the organizers of the
Described by Rolling Stone as “innovative yet popular, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing, Earth, Wind & Fire changed the sound of black pop in the 70s—their encyclopedic sound topping Latin-funk rhythms with gospel harmonies, unerring horns... and various exotic ingredients.”
Expect to experience a nostalgic glow and energy of soul, funk, jazz and lotsa love from one of the most enduring—and possibly most covered—musical acts on Earth this March 5, at the Cebu City Sports Complex.
And of course, happy to provide (not steal) some “thunder” into the concert event is
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And yes, there are more international acts to come. Grammy-winning American rock band Toto will be performing their hits “Africa,” “Hold the Line,” “Rosanna,” “I Won’t Hold You Back,” “99,” “Pamela,” “Stop Loving You,” et cetera at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel on April 2.
While the finest RnB group of all-time, the eight-time Grammy-winning Boyz II Men, will be in
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