Blake Gillespie is a GRAMMY.com contributor.
It took Earth, Wind & Fire six studio albums before they became mainstays on the pop charts. However, the genre-blending funk group's longstanding influence suggests that they've been opening minds and writing inspiring music since their self-titled debut in 1971. Earth, Wind & Fire's legacy is now cemented with multi-platinum albums and six GRAMMYs, but just as important is the…
Becoming one of the "most commercially successful Black bands of the '70s and '80s" was far from an overnight accomplishment for the L.A. by-way-of Chicago soul, jazz, and funk band Earth, Wind & Fire. Years of toiling to distinguish their sound from their contemporaries in the 1970s and '80s eventually gave the world timeless hits like "Shining Star," "September," and…
Contemporary soul music embraces the rich history of the genre, with groups throughout the U.S. and internationally performing everything from Stax-inspired Southern soul to northern soul-favored anthems fit for the dancefloor. Yet one subgenre of soul music has burst forth to capture the ears of generations of listeners: sweet soul. Favored by young, touring groups like Durand Jones and the…
Privately, Peanut Butter Wolf has always been a singer. It’s just that being the founder of the revered independent label Stones Throw Records is time consuming. For 28 years, the L.A.-based label has fearlessly released cutting-edge hip-hop, jazz, soul, and funk records, as well as innovative blends of those genres. It’s been a slow burn to this moment, but on…
