Earth, Wind & Fire

Band

Photo: Columbia Records · Public domain
Active 1969-1984, 1987-present
Origin Chicago, Illinois
Albums 21
Tracks 226
Most frequent collaborator Joe Wissert · 38 tracks
Genres R&BFunkSoul
Songwriter
65%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 148 of 226 tracks

Who wrote Earth, Wind & Fire's songs?

Maurice White, more than anyone else. He is credited on 126 of the 226 album tracks in this catalogue, with Philip Bailey on 34, Verdine White on 22 and Larry Dunn on 19. White founded the band, produced most of it and wrote more than half of it.

By the Numbers

21
Studio Albums
226
Tracks Credited
65%
Self-Written
over 90 million
Records Sold
57
Years Active
192
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 148 / 226 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 226 tracks: how many Earth, Wind & Fire wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Earth, Wind & Fire has a writing credit65%
24%
42%
35%
Sole author54tracks24%
Co-written94tracks42%
Outside writers78tracks35%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Earth, Wind & Fire's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 226 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)65%
Composer (music)65%
Producer81%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 226 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Maurice White 1969-1984, 1987-2016
56%
56%
71%
0%
Verdine White 1969-1984, 1987-present
10%
10%
0%
0%
Philip Bailey 1972-1984, 1987-present
15%
15%
19%
0%
Ralph Johnson 1972-1984, 1987-present
3%
3%
0%
0%
Larry Dunn 1972-1983
8%
8%
4%
0%
Al McKay 1973-1981
4%
4%
4%
0%
Johnny Graham 1973-1983
0%
0%
0%
0%
Andrew Woolfolk 1973-1984, 1987-1993
0%
0%
0%
0%
Fred White 1974-1984
1%
1%
0%
0%
Wade Flemons 1969-1972
5%
5%
0%
0%
Don Whitehead 1969-1972
5%
5%
0%
0%
Sherry Scott 1969-1972
1%
1%
0%
0%
Michael Beal 1969-1972
1%
1%
0%
0%
Roland Bautista 1972-1973, 1981-1984
1%
1%
0%
0%
Sheldon Reynolds 1987-2002
3%
3%
0%
0%
B. David Whitworth 1996-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Myron McKinley 2001-present
0%
0%
10%
0%
John Paris 2001-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Morris O'Connor 2008-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Philip Doron Bailey 2009-present
3%
3%
10%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Earth, Wind & Fire's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 65%
100%
80%
64%
67%
55%
100%
78%
91%
78%
93%
78%
100%
63%
40%
53%
81%
82%
50%
0%
80%
15%
1971Earth, Wind & Fire
1971The Need of Love
1972Last Days and Time
1973Head to the Sky
1974Open Our Eyes
1975That's the Way of the World
1976Spirit
1977All 'n All
1979I Am
1980Faces
1981Raise!
1983Powerlight
1983Electric Universe
1987Touch the World
1990Heritage
1993Millennium
1997In the Name of Love
2003The Promise
2005Illumination
2013Now, Then & Forever
2014Holiday
Early · 75% written
Mid · 79% written
Late · 51% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

78%
1970s
Earth, Wind & Fire, The Need of Love +7 more
76%
1980s
Faces, Raise! +3 more
70%
1990s
Heritage, Millennium +1 more
28%
2000s
The Promise, Illumination
43%
2010s
Now, Then & Forever, Holiday

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Earth, Wind & Fire sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Earth, Wind & Fire
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Tina Turner0%
Diana Ross10%
The Jacksons24%
Eric Clapton40%
Michael Jackson51%
George Michael80%
Prince96%
65%Earth, Wind & Fire
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Love Is Life
Earth, Wind & Fire
Written by Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead, Wade Herbert Flemons
Wrote it
Evil
Head to the Sky
Written by Philip Bailey, Maurice White, Philip James Bailey
Wrote it
Keep Your Head to the Sky
Head to the Sky
Written by Maurice White
Wrote it
Mighty Mighty
Open Our Eyes
Written by Maurice White, Verdine White, Verdine Adams White
Wrote it
Devotion
Open Our Eyes
Written by Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Philip James Bailey
Wrote it
Kalimba Story
Open Our Eyes
Written by Maurice White, Verdine White, Verdine Adams White
Wrote it
Shining Star
That's the Way of the World
Written by Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White, Philip James Bailey, Lorenzo Russell Dunn
Wrote it
That's the Way of the World
That's the Way of the World
Written by Charles Stepney, Verdine White, Maurice White, Verdine Adams White
Co-wrote
Getaway
Spirit
Written by Peter Cor, Beloyd Taylor, Bernard Taylor
Outside writers
Saturday Nite
Spirit
Written by Al McKay, Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Albert Phillip McKay, Philip James Bailey
Wrote it
Serpentine Fire
All 'n All
Written by Maurice White, Verdine White, Reginald "Sonny" Burke, Verdine Adams White
Co-wrote
Fantasy
All 'n All
Written by Maurice White, Verdine White, Eddie del Barrio, Verdine Adams White, Eduardo Del Barrio
Co-wrote
After the Love Has Gone
I Am
Written by David Foster, Jay Graydon, Bill Champlin, David Walter Foster
Outside writers
Boogie Wonderland
I Am
Written by Jon Lind, Allee Willis, Alta Sherral Willis
Outside writers
In the Stone
I Am
Written by Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster, Alta Sherral Willis, David Walter Foster
Co-wrote
Star
I Am
Written by Eddie del Barrio, Maurice White, Allee Willis, Del Barrio, Alta Sherral Willis
Co-wrote
Let Me Talk
Faces
Written by Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Ralph Johnson, Al McKay, Maurice White, Verdine White, Philip James Bailey, Lorenzo Russell Dunn, Ralph Randolph Johnson, Albert Phillip McKay, Verdine Adams White
Wrote it
You
Faces
Written by David Foster, Brenda Russell, Maurice White, David Walter Foster
Co-wrote
And Love Goes On
Faces
Written by Larry Dunn, David Foster, Brenda Russell, Maurice White, Verdine White, Lorenzo Russell Dunn, David Walter Foster, Verdine Adams White
Co-wrote
Let's Groove
Raise!
Written by Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White
Co-wrote
Wanna Be with You
Raise!
Written by Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White
Co-wrote
Fall in Love with Me
Powerlight
Written by Maurice White, Wayne Vaughn, Wanda Vaughn
Co-wrote
Side by Side
Powerlight
Written by Maurice White, Wayne Vaughn, Wanda Vaughn
Co-wrote
Magnetic
Electric Universe
Written by Martin Page
Outside writers
System of Survival
Touch the World
Written by Skylark
Outside writers
Thinking of You
Touch the World
Written by Wayne Vaughn, Wanda Vaughn, Maurice White
Co-wrote
Sunday Morning
Millennium
Written by Sheldon Reynolds, Maurice White, Allee Willis, Alta Sherral Willis
Co-wrote

Discography 21 albums

All twenty-one studio albums. The live records, the soundtrack Gratitude and the compilations sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Earth, Wind & Fire226 tracks
JW38Joe Wissert, 38 tracks WV34Wayne Vaughn, 34 tracks FB34Frankie Blue, 34 tracks BM28Bill Meyers, 28 tracks PG27Preston Glass, 27 tracks CS20Charles Stepney, 20 tracks LP18Les Pierce, 18 tracks RB18Robert Brookins, 18 tracks GC17Gregory Curtis, 17 tracks FR16Freddie Ravel, 16 tracks AW15Allee Willis, 15 tracks AS15Alta Sherral Willis, 15 tracks DF11David Foster, 11 tracks DW11David Walter Foster, 11 tracks AG11Alan Glass, 11 tracks AK11Andrew Klippel, 11 tracks JL8Jon Lind, 8 tracks WV8Wanda Vaughn, 8 tracks BT7Beloyd Taylor, 7 tracks ED5Eddie del Barrio, 5 tracks RS5Roxanne Seeman, 5 tracks BY5Billy Young, 5 tracks JB5James Bailey, 5 tracks MP5Morris Pleasure, 5 tracks SS4Skip Scarborough, 4 tracks BR4Brenda Russell, 4 tracks MP4Martin Page, 4 tracks NB4Nicky Brown, 4 tracks RS4Raphael Saadiq, 4 tracks ED3Eduardo del Barrio, 3 tracks GG3Garry Glenn, 3 tracks AL3Azar Lawrence, 3 tracks BW3Brock Walsh, 3 tracks LR3Lestley R. Pierce, 3 tracks VH3Victor Hill, 3 tracks BS3Bernard Spears, 3 tracks SE3Sonny Emory, 3 tracks MA3Melanie Andrews, 3 tracks PM3Paul Minor, 3 tracks JH3James Harris III, 3 tracks TJ3Taura Jackson, 3 tracks SB3Sleepy Brown, 3 tracks AJ3Austin Jacobs, 3 tracks DS3Darrin Simpson, 3 tracks JP3Justin Panariello, 3 tracks RG2Rick Giles, 2 tracks JP2Jerry Peters, 2 tracks TE2The Emotions, 2 tracks RV2Ross Vannelli, 2 tracks BF2Brian Fairweather, 2 tracks IP2Ian Prince, 2 tracks MH2MC Hammer, 2 tracks TS2Tommy Sims, 2 tracks RC2Raymond Crossley, 2 tracks TL2Terry Lewis, 2 tracks TL2Tony L. Tolbert, 2 tracks JJ2Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, 2 tracks RM2Ray Murray, 2 tracks RW2Rico Wade, 2 tracks AP2Antwan Patton, 2 tracks on OutKast's page ON2Organized Noize, 2 tracks DM2Daniel McClain, 2 tracks RE1Richard Evans, 1 track PU1Phil Upchurch, 1 track MD1Mark Davis, 1 track DG1David Gates, 1 track PS1Pete Seeger, 1 track EL1Edu Lobo, 1 track KA1Kenny Altman, 1 track EH1Eddie Harris, 1 track LL1Leon Lumpkins, 1 track LA1Louise Anglin, 1 track PC1Peter Cor, 1 track R"1Reginald "Sonny" Burke, 1 track ED1Eduardo Del Barrio, 1 track SB1Steve Beckmeier, 1 track MN1Milton Nascimento, 1 track JG1Jay Graydon, 1 track BC1Bill Champlin, 1 track DB1Del Barrio, 1 track VC1Valerie Carter, 1 track JN1James Newton Howard, 1 track DB1del Barrio, 1 track JH1Jean Hancock, 1 track AM1Arlene Matza, 1 track HM1Howard McCrary, 1 track NO1Nan O'Byrne, 1 track JH1Jerry Hey, 1 track GP1Greg Phillinganes, 1 track FW1Freddie Washington, 1 track TH1Tony Haynes, 1 track ED1Eddie Del Barrio, 1 track MD1Mary D'Astgues, 1 track DP1David Porter, 1 track DO1Desmond O'Connor, 1 track LV1Lisa Vaughn, 1 track MC1Michel Colombier, 1 track S1Skylark, 1 track AZ1Attala Zane Giles, 1 track MM1Mark Mueller, 1 track RN1Robbie Nevil, 1 track DS1Danny Sembello, 1 track RO1Rev. Oliver W. Wells, 1 track MS1Marti Sharron, 1 track GB1Glen Ballard, 1 track SS1Sly Stone, 1 track GB1Gary Bias, 1 track P1Patterson, 1 track LM1Lyle Mays, 1 track MS1Morris Stewart, 1 track SM1Stephanie Mills, 1 track JC1Jeffrey Cohen, 1 track DT1Dawn Thomas, 1 track KB1Ken Barken, 1 track BB1Burt Bacharach, 1 track FF1Faye Freenberg, 1 track DL1David Lawrence, 1 track LS1Linda Stokes, 1 track MS1Michael Stokes, 1 track P1Prince, 1 track TB1Thom Bell, 1 track BR1Betty Reynolds, 1 track KG1Kevin Guillaume, 1 track RH1Ralph Hawkins Jr., 1 track DJ1Damian Johnson, 1 track RT1Ralph Tresvant, 1 track on New Edition's page SM1Scott Mayo, 1 track WW1Wil Wheaton, 1 track ME1Marcel East, 1 track CR1Chris Rodriguez, 1 track AS1Angie Stone, 1 track TK1Tim Kelley, 1 track BR1Bob Robinson, 1 track SH1Sheila Hutchinson, 1 track SS1Scott Storch, 1 track on The Roots's page PP1Pino Palladino, 1 track JP1James Poyser, 1 track on The Roots's page Q1Questlove, 1 track on The Roots's page MH1Marc Harris, 1 track W1will.i.am, 1 track on Black Eyed Peas's page KH1Keith Harris, 1 track L1Lo-Key?, 1 track BR1Bobby Ross Avila, 1 track IJ1Issiah J. Avila, 1 track TA1The Avila Brothers, 1 track JJ1Jimmy Jam, 1 track BB1Big Boi, 1 track on OutKast's page ME1Marqueze Ethridge, 1 track KR1Kelly Rowland, 1 track on Destiny's Child's page KW1Kelvin Wooten, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 190. JW Joe Wissert · WV Wayne Vaughn · FB Frankie Blue · BM Bill Meyers · PG Preston Glass · CS Charles Stepney

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

White founded the band, led it, produced almost all of it and wrote more than half of it. Philip Bailey has 34 tracks, Verdine White 22, Larry Dunn 19, Al McKay 10 and Ralph Johnson 7, so the eight-piece band that filled arenas holds fewer credits between them than the one man out front of the credit list. Outside writers come and go around him: Charles Stepney early, Allee Willis and David Foster on the disco records, the Vaughns in the 1980s.

Quick Facts

  • The founder writesMaurice White on 126 of the 226 album tracks
  • Next closestPhilip Bailey on 34, Verdine White on 22
  • SalesOver 90 million records worldwide
  • GrammysSix wins from 17 nominations
  • Hall of FameRock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
  • Kennedy CenterHonored in 2019

Creative Fingerprint

One founder on more than half the catalogue, with the rest of a large band sharing what is left.

The Story

Maurice White wrote 126 of the 226 album tracks Earth, Wind & Fire recorded. Nobody else in the band reaches 40.

Awards & Recognition

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted 2000
Kennedy Center Honors, 2019
Six Grammy Awards from 17 nominations
Four American Music Awards from 12 nominations
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Frequently Asked Questions Earth, Wind & Fire

Who wrote Earth, Wind & Fire's songs?
Maurice White, more than anyone else. He is credited on 126 of the 226 album tracks in this catalogue, with Philip Bailey on 34, Verdine White on 22 and Larry Dunn on 19. White founded the band, produced most of it and wrote more than half of it.
Who wrote "September"?
Maurice White with Al McKay and Allee Willis. It was released as a single from a greatest hits collection rather than a studio album, so it sits outside this catalogue.
Who wrote "Shining Star"?
Maurice White, Philip Bailey and Larry Dunn. It reached number 1 on the Hot 100, the band's only chart-topper there.
Who wrote "Boogie Wonderland"?
Allee Willis and Jon Lind, two outside writers. It reached number 6 on the Hot 100 and is one of the band's biggest hits without a Maurice White credit.
Does Philip Bailey write?
On 34 tracks, most of them in the classic period and on the later albums he produced himself. He is the only member other than Maurice White with a double-digit share across the whole run.
How many albums did they release?
Twenty-one studio albums between 1971 and 2014. The live records and compilations sit outside this catalogue.
What changed after Maurice White stopped leading the band?
He has no credit on Now, Then & Forever in 2013, where Philip Doron Bailey has six of the ten tracks. It is the only album in the catalogue built without him.
How well did they sell?
Over 90 million records worldwide, which puts them among the best-selling bands of all time.
How many Grammys did they win?
Six, from 17 nominations, along with four American Music Awards from 12 nominations.
Are they in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes, inducted in 2000. They are also in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2019.

Sources

Wikipedia: Earth, Wind & Fire Wikipedia: Earth, Wind & Fire discography Wikipedia: List of Earth, Wind & Fire band members Wikipedia: Maurice White Wikipedia: Verdine White Wikipedia: Philip Bailey Wikipedia: Ralph Johnson (musician) Wikipedia: Larry Dunn Wikipedia: Al McKay Wikipedia: Andrew Woolfolk Wikipedia: Wade Flemons File:Earth Wind and Fire 1970s press photo - Wikimedia Commons