earth wind and fire

Tonight on the show, a FULL hour of Earth, Wind & Fire classics (plus that one song that Philip Bailey paired up with Phil Collins, or 1/3 of Genesis + one fraction of Earth, Wind & Fire). Earth, Wind & Fire is a true American band, crossing genres in its five decade history, founded in Chicago by the late Maurice White in 1969. The band had its breakthrough year in 1975 with hits like "Shining Star", "Can't Hide Love", and "That's The Way of the World" (the latter song was also the name of an other than forgettable film co-starring the band and featuring their music, starring Harvey Keitel). The group is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame, and on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2019, in honor of the group's 50th Anniversary, the band was rewarded with the Kennedy Center Honor, one of the highest and most prestigious honors in the entertainment business. The group has infused African, Latin, Caribbean, R&B, Soul, Jazz, Funk, Rock, Disco, and Afro Pop through the years and through the hits.

Tonight, it's a "Day of the Dead". We pay tribute to artists whom we lost this year, in song.

PLAYLIST:
"Let's Go Crazy" - Prince (1958-2016)
"Let's Dance" - David Bowie (1947-2016)
"Unforgettable" - Natalie Cole (1950-2015) & Nat King Cole
"That's The Way of the World" - Earth, Wind, and Fire (Maurice White; 1941-2016)
"Okie from Muskogee" - Merle Haggard (1937-2016)
"Pure Imagination" - Gene Wilder (1933-2016)
"You Spin Me (Like a Record)" - Dead or Alive (Pete Burns; 1959-2016)
"Sweethearts on Parade" - Pete Fountain (1930-2016), supported by the Lawrence Welk band
"Not Getting Married Today" - Company - Original Broadway Cast (starring Dean Jones, 1931-2015, and in this specific song, featuring Beth Howland; 1941-2015)
"Pretty Women" - Alan Rickman (1946-2016) with Johnny Depp
"Come Back When You Grow Up" - Bobby Vee (1943-2016)
"I Could Have Danced All Night" - Marni Nixon (1930-2016) singing on behalf of Audrey Hepburn
"Karn Evil No. 9" - Emerson (1945-2016), Lake, & Palmer