By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Grammy award-winning R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire will be in Seoul for the first time in December.
The legendary group, best known for their distinctive blend of funk, R&B, soul, jazz and pop music, is expected to delight Korean fans at their concert at COEX Hall C, Dec. 17.
Their hit songs include ``September,'' ``Let's Groove,'' ``Shining Star,'' ``Boogie Wonderland'' and ``After the Love Has Gone.''
Earth, Wind & Fire was originally formed in 1969 in Chicago by Maurice White. Throughout its 40 year career, the group has won ten Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. Their albums have sold over 90 million around the world.
Credited with popularizing the funk sound, the group has already been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Rolling Stone magazine once described the American group as ``innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing.''
Earth, Wind & Fire has released 23 albums since 1971. The band went on hiatus in the mid-1980s as founding member Maurice White produced albums for Barbra Streisand, and vocalist Philip Bailey released solo albums. They reunited for the album ``Touch the World'' in 1987.
While the peak of their popularity was in the '70s and '80s, the band has stayed strong by coming out with critically acclaimed albums, performing live and collaborating with various artists.
Their last album ``Illumination'' released in 2005, features collaborations with Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am, Brian McKnight and Outkast's Big Boi. The album was nominated for Best R&B album at the Grammy Awards.
In February, Earth, Wind & Fire performed at the first formal White House dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
Last summer, the band also went on a U.S. tour with another popular group, Chicago. While White is no longer part of the touring group, he still works behind the scenes, producing and composing music for the band. Bailey remains the leader of the performing group.
Tickets for Earth, Wind & Fire's first concert in Seoul range from 55,000 won to 110,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.