The Earth Wind & Fire experience

MANILA, Philippines - Is Earth Wind & Fire Experience a tribute group? If you can call Paul McCartney a tribute artist to the Beatles, then it’s probably fair to call Earth Wind & Fire Experience a tribute group. I’ve been asked this question over a hundred times ever since I got involved in booking the group in the Asian region six years ago and here’s the story.

After spending close to a decade with Earth, Wind & Fire as lead guitarist/vocalist/arranger/songwriter, five-time Grammy and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Al McKay left the band when it went on hiatus. He formed a group called The Al McKay Allstars which included his Earth Wind & Fire groupmates Larry Dunn (keyboards), Rahmlee Davis (trumpet), Johnny Graham (guitar), Ralph Johnson (percussion), Louis Satterfield (trombone), Andrew Woofolk (saxophone), plus Earth Wind & Fire leader Maurice White’s brothers Verdine White (bass) and Freddy White (drums). In fact, even Philip Bailey joined for a short period. Because McKay’s group performed all Earth Wind & Fire songs, his management decided to rename it to Earth Wind & Fire Experience and the rest is history.

McKay co-wrote a lot of Earth Wind & Fire hits like September, Singasong, Saturday Nite, I’ll Write A Song For You, etc. with White who has retired from touring decades ago when he was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.

Currently, the Earth Wind & Fire Experience features two original Earth Wind & Fire members McKay and Michael Harris while Earth Wind & Fire only features one original member Bailey.

I have been a big fan of this group and have booked and toured them all over the Philippines (Manila, Clark, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, CDO, etc.) and Asia (Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, etc.). After three long years, Mckay is finally returning to Manila but just for one show on March 4 at the Grand Ballroom of Solaire Resort and Casino. McKay would have wanted to visit more Philippine cities but his tight schedule prevents him from doing so. Lined up to be performed at the concert-cum-dance party are the immortal Earth Wind & Fire hits September, Boogie Wonderland, Singasong, Fantasy, Sun Goddess, That’s The Way Of The World, Got To Get You Into My Life, Serpentine Fire, Shining Star, Let’s Groove, In The Stone, Reasons, After The Love Has Gone and more.

The Earth Wind & Fire Experience members are some of the finest singers and musicians in the music industry like vocalists Tim Owens, De Vere Duckett and Claude Woods who have worked and recorded with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Barry White, KC & Jojo, Rod Stewart, Beyoncé, Vanessa Williams, Michael Bolton; Freddie Fluwelen who has worked with jazz stars Ronnie Laws, Patti Austin; Ben Dowling who has recorded with Madonna, Michael Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Yes; and sax wiz Ed Wynne who was a former Doobie Bros member and toured/recorded with Franki Valli, the Platters, etc.

Tickets are now available at all Ticketworld, Ticketnet, SM Tickets and the concierge of Solaire Resort & Casino. If there are any doubting Thomases on how good the group is, google McKay’s website and check how many cities his current tour will include then go to Earth Wind & Fire’s webpage and check its tour schedule.

 Earth Wind & Fire Experience Live at Solaire is presented by Steve O’ Neal Productions and Solaire Resort & Casino in collaboration with HDI, 2nd Avenue, Business World, Laurel Media, RCBC, Hard Rock Café, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Telenovela Chanel, IBC13, Duty Free Philippines, Air 21 and the official concert station RJ100.3 FM.