MusicMusic History

Tracking Earth, Wind & Fire

Doc Brooks

A deep-dive documentary-style series that tracks the legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire’s music, personnel, and the hundreds of musicians and artists they collaborated with and influenced over the last half-century.

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15 episodes
weekly
Avg 25 min
English

Episodes 15

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S1 · E14
Friday · 57 min
Minnie Riperton's "Come to My Garden"
Doc Brooks welcomes special guest Brittnay L. Proctor, Ph.D. for a deep dive into Minnie Riperton's debut solo album, Come to My Garden. The celebrated album, produced and arranged by Charles Stepney was released in 1970 and included several famed musicians such as Ramsey Lewis, Maurice White, Cleveland Eaton, Phil Upchurch, and Sidney Barnes. Most of the songs' lyrics were written by Riperton's partner and future husband, Richard Rudolph. Professor Proctor's book, Come to My Garden is part of Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series, the same series of Doc Brooks's That''s the Way of the World.
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S1 · E13
October 2 · 21 min
Charles Comes to Minnie's Garden
Episode #13: "Charles Comes to Minnie's Garden". Doc Brooks takes you inside the Tel Mar Studio for a November 1969 recording session. Charles Stepney led a group of distinguished musicians that included Maurice White, Ramsey Lewis, Cleveland Eaton, and Phil Upchurch to record Minnie Riperton's debut solo album, Come to My Garden.
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S1 · E13
September 26 · 19 min
Inside the Podcast: Updates, Corrections & What's Ahead
Doc Brooks provides some health updates on members of the Earth, Wind & Fire family. He also shares Verdine White's recent news about a new song released by him and his late brother, Maurice White. Doc also provides a few corrections from previous episodes and tells you what's in store in upcoming episodes. The episode concludes with a short tribute to the award-winning producer/songwriter who composed this podcast's opening and closing theme music.
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S1 · E11
September 21 · 24 min
Special Edpisode: September 21st
Happy Earth, Wind & Fire Day! Doc Brooks celebrates this special day with a deep dive into EWF's iconic "September." Doc introduces you to Allee Willis, takes you inside the funk guitar work of Al McKay, and explores some of the stories behind one of the most successful and enduring tracks in music history.
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S1 · E10
September 18 · 48 min
Part 2 with Soleh Brewer: The Salty Peppers and Beyond
Episode #10 is part two with Soleh Brewer. Doc Brooks and Soleh discuss some of the members of The Salty Peppers and their enduring legacies with Earth, Wind and Fire. YouTube subscribers are encouraged to subscribe (it's free). Please check out each episode's playlist on Spotify.
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S1 · E9
September 11 · 25 min
The Official Earth, Wind & Fire Legacy With Guest Soleh Brewer
Episode #9 is the first of two parts featuring Soleh Brewer, a musician with close ties to several former and current members of Earth, Wind & Fire. We learn of Soleh's early career in music and his love of Earth, Wind & Fire. Soleh also discusses his role in creating Facebook groups dedicated to the legacy of Earth, Wind & Fire. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to the podcast AND each episode's playlist on Spotify.
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S1 · E8
September 4 · 27 min
Meet The Salty Peppers
Host Doc Brooks takes you inside Chicago's Audio Finishers Studio for a special recording session led by Maurice White and featuring several distinguished musicians such as Louis Satterfield, Pete Cosey, and the legendary Donny Hathaway. Nine songs were recorded under a band named The Salty Peppers. Meet each member of The Salty Peppers while learning some little-known facts about Donny Hathaway and this historic recording session.
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S1 · E7
August 29 · 22 min
Creating His Concept
In 1968, America was sick. Protests set cities on fire and college campuses were rocked by demonstrations against the war in Vietnam . Maurice White, like so many other musicians, responded through his music. This is the context that Maurice White developed his concept of Earth, Wind & Fire. This episode tracks White's decision to invite 10 musicians to record and release songs under a band named "The Salty Peppers." Listen to this episode's playlist on Spotify.
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S1 · E6
August 17 · 17 min
Kalimba Stories
"Kalimba Stories" continues Maurice White's time with The Ramsey Lewis Trio that includes his interest in Chicago's Black Arts Movement. White was a frequent visitor to the Affro-Arts Theater establsihed by Phil Cohran, who also created the African Heritage Ensemble and recruited members from Chess Records' rhythm section (Louis Satterfield and Don Myrick). White fell in love with the Kalimba--African thumb piano played by Cohran, believed to be the first to amplify the instrument, what he called the "Frankiphone." There are some interesting stories involving Cohen, White, and the African Heritage Ensemble.
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S1 · E5
August 7 · 18 min
Around the World with Ramsey Lewis
This episode explores Maurice White's beginnings with The Ramsey Lewis Trio and the various influences that helped shaped the genesis of Earth, Wind & Fire. Follow this episode's playlist on Spotify. Unfortuantely, the link to the YouTube video of the 1982 reunion of the Ramsey Lewis Trio (before Maurice White and Cleveland Eaton joined in 1966) may no longer be available.
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S1 · E4
July 31 · 24 min
Playing Chess in Chicago
Episode #4, Playing Chess in Chicago focuses on Maurice White's work at Chicago's legendary Chess Records. White pays homage to Chess's A&R man Billy Davis, singer-songwriter Curtis Mayfield, and vocalist Billy Stewart. White joins other noted musicians on Fontella Bass's 1965 hit song, "Rescue Me", and we are introduced to innovative arranger & vibraphonist Charles Stepney. The episode closes with an invitation to Maurice White from Ramsey Lewis. Follow each episode's playlist on Spotify and email your comments to trackingewf@gmail.com. Source Material: Robert Pruter, (1991) Chicago Soul, University of Illinois Press Maurice White with Herb Powell, (2016) My Life with Earth, Wind & Fire, Amistad
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S1 · E3
July 25 · 19 min
Welcome to Chicago, Maurice White
Episode #3, "Welcome to Chicago, Maurice White" examines Maurice White's initial years in Chicago. From St. Luke's Presbyterian Hospital to Crane Junior College, the Jazzmen, and Vee-Jay Records, White's dream shifted from medicine to music.These were the formative years where his journey toward stardom truly began. Here's a link to the YouTube recording of Maurice White and the Jazzmen performing at the 1963 Collegiate Jazz Festival: https://www.youtube.com/GT5fRSTidU8
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S1 · E3
July 20 · 23 min
Maurice White the Drummer
Unlock the young Maurice White's journey from Memphis jazz enthusiast to legendary bandleader of Earth, Wind & Fire. Before the fame, there was a shy boy with drumsticks, inspired by Memphis’s vibrant music scene and mentored by jazz icons like Joe Dukes. White's early life reveals how music education, personal and professional partnerships, and his own resilience set him on the path to global stardom—and how a heartbreaking goodbye in Memphis propelled him toward Chicago’s bustling music scene.
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S1 · E1
July 19 · 14 min
Maurice White and the Seeds of Earth, Wind & Fire
Episode 1 of Tracking Earth, Wind & Fire provides a deep dive into the youth of Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White gowing up in Memphis with Mama after his birth mother Edna leaves "Sandy" in her care when she moves to Chicago to find better work. Listen to the episode's playlist on Spotify. Email: trackingewf@gmail.com
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July 17 · 22 min
Launch Episode: The Legacy of Earth, Wind & Fire
This special launch of the podcast Tracking Earth, Wind & Fire, provides a deep dive into the enduring leagacy of Earth, Wind & Fire. Host Doc Brooks provides an overview of the band's legacy and previews future podcast episode topics. Audiences are invited to subscribe to the podcast, follow each episode's playlist on Spotify, and email comments to trackingewf@gmail.com.
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