Review: Earth, Wind & Fire bring joyful night of funk, soul and spirituality to Rady Shell

Despite being down one original member — bassist Verdine White is temporarily sidelined for medical reasons — Earth, Wind & Fire lit up The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park with their signature blend of feel-good funk, sultry-smooth R&B, and spiritually infused soul.

Torchbearers Philip Bailey Sr. (vocals, percussion) and Ralph Johnson (vocals, drums, percussion) guided the 12-piece ensemble through dance-friendly hits such as the pulsating opener “Shining Star” and soulful “Serpentine Fire” (one of the best uses of cowbell in a song ever), along with crowd-pleasers like “After the Love Has Gone” and 1975’s “That’s the Way of the World” on July 6.

Early on, Bailey informed the crowd that they’d be playing songs that reached the top of the charts as well as some that held a special place in people’s hearts (poeticism intended). That proved especially true on the spiritual “Devotion” — during which they paid tribute to band founder, co-lead singer, and chief songwriter Maurice White, who passed away in 2016 — and “Kalimba Story” / “Sing a Message to You,” when Bailey gently plucked his kalimba, an African thumb piano. 

Bailey’s four-octave falsetto remains one of the most impressive instruments in music, and over Earth, Wind & Fire’s remarkable 56-year career, it has greatly shaped the band’s distinctive sound. On this night, he had many opportunities to reach for the sky, particularly on “Brazilian Rhyme (Beijo).” 

That said, Bailey wasn’t always pitch perfect — he faltered on some low-register vocals, such as during “Got to Get You Into My Life,” and struggled to hit some of the high notes on “Reasons,” an intensely challenging song for any singer. Still, at least twice the 74-year-old unleashed such a piercing note that The Shell’s choice of plastic wine cups seemed like a prudent decision.

Though Verdine White’s magnetic stage presence and masterful bass lines were missed, Ray McKinley held his own admirably, his solo brimming with funky flair and blending seamlessly into an instrumental interlude that let the band stretch its chops.

Equally impressive, B. David Whitworth, who isn’t an “original” member but has been with the band since 1996, deserves an all-purpose player award. With joyful abandon, the percussionist/vocalist tossed tambourines into the air, smashed cymbals behind his back, took over tenor parts on “Love’s Holiday,” and drew cheers for his comedic dance moves during “Boogie Wonderland.”

Of course, no discussion of this group would be complete without acknowledging the peerless Earth, Wind & Fire horns — Gary Bias (tenor sax), Reggie Young (trombone), and Bobby Burns Jr. (trumpet)—and the band’s omnipresent silky harmonies. The brass trio’s tight, vibrant work powered songs like “Jupiter” and “Sing a Song,” while background vocals from Johnson and Bailey’s son, among others, added polish to gems like “After the Love Has Gone.” Philip Bailey Jr. also stepped up to assume lead on “Serpentine Fire” and “Let’s Groove,” allowing dad to concentrate on the congas — and perhaps laying the foundation for Earth, Wind & Fire’s future.

Maurice White founded Earth, Wind & Fire in 1969, drawing its name from the three elements in his astrological chart. Beginning with their self-titled debut in 1970, the band released 23 albums that spawned eight No. 1 singles, earned nine GRAMMY Awards, and sold 100 million copies worldwide, making them one of the best-selling artists of all time. The were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in 2019 for their massive contribution to arts and culture.

That legacy was abundantly clear throughout the group’s hit-packed 90-minute set. This was not one of those shows where fans leave saying, “Boy, I sure wish they played…” 

Leaving it all on the stage, Earth, Wind & Fire wrapped up the joyful night with a dizzying disco-dance blitz that had nearly everyone on their feet — from the cosmic “Fantasy” and “Boogie Wonderland” to “Let’s Groove” and the anthemic “September.” It felt like being on a funk-fueled rollercoaster…and no one wanted to get off.

As the crowd caught its breath and reveled in the ride, the band returned for the unlikely encore of “In the Stone,” a lesser-known track from 1979’s I Am. It may have seemed anticlimactic to some, given the explosive closer that preceded it, but if you centered on the song’s lyrics—“Deep inside your heart for you to keep / Lies a spark of light that never sleeps / The greatest love you ever known / Love is, love is written in the stone” — it made perfect sense. Earth, Wind & Fire is just the band to leave you with an uplifting message of love.

Donovan Roche is a longtime music writer and frequent contributor to Times of San Diego. Send your story ideas to droche617@gmail.com.