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Contact: Rick Scott 310.398.0260
February 19, 2002
e-mail: greatscottpr@pacificnet.net
Band to Perform Hits During Closing Ceremonies
The icons of R&B/pop, Earth, Wind & Fire will perform several of their greatest hits as part of the closing ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City this Sunday evening, February 24. Catch the concert performance during NBC's coverage of the festivities (check local listings for broadcast station and time).
Earth, Wind & Fire has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, and has won six Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, an NAACP Hall of Fame Image Award and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their classic hits to be included in Sunday's set are "Shining Star," Let's Groove" and "Getaway."
On April 23, Columbia/Legacy will release "That's The Way Of The World: Alive in '75," a CD collection of previously unreleased live concert performances. Presently, the band is working on their 23rd album, which they hope to release in late summer or early fall. Two new EWF songs, "Why?" and "Fun and Free," will be featured in the Eddie Murphy film, "The Adventures of Pluto Nash," expected in theatres in August.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Scott 310.398.0260
August 3, 2001
e-mail: greatscottpr@pacificnet.net
IT'S GOING TO BE A "COOL BLUE SEPTEMBER" FOR EARTH, WIND & FIRE
The R&B Band Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Major U.S. Concert Tour, Launch a Health Care Initiative and Release a Documentary Film
September has always been Earth, Wind & Fire's month and this year is no different. The mighty, mighty R&B funk outfit is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary by embarking on a major concert tour of the United States. Viagra (sildenafil citrate), made by Pfizer, will sponsor "The Cool Blue September Tour," a relationship that was spawned to launch a health care initiative primarily geared towards men.
Six-times Grammy winners and members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Earth, Wind & Fire has sold over 30 million albums worldwide while delivering their own innovative melange of progressive jazz, funky R&B, inspiring gospel and shimmering pop gems. Deservedly earning the respect and adoration of fans, musicians and critics alike, EWF has garnered the reputation as being one of the finest live acts on the concert stage. Thirteen members strong along with a trio of dancers will tear through the band's catalogue of hits including "Shining Star," September," "Fantasy," "Let's Groove," "Reasons," "Got To Get You Into My Life" and "That's The Way Of The World."
Together Earth, Wind & Fire and Pfizer are taking an innovative approach to reaching adults with a message about good health and see the relationship as a wonderful opportunity to bring healthcare to the people. Pfizer, in partnership with the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation and its affiliated chapters, will provide free health checks at Earth, Wind & Fire concerts along the tour route, as well as additional health checks open to the public in several concert markets. The health checks aim to help identify signs of common conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease that often go undiagnosed. The goal of the initiative is to encourage men and women to take a more active interest in their physical and mental health so they can enjoy life to the fullest. Part of the tour merchandise proceeds will be donated to the AAFP Foundation, which has a mission to improve the health of all people and to support scientific, educational and charitable initiatives within the specialty of family practice.
"There's no way that we'd be able to do what we do on stage night after night for thirty years if we didn't take good care of ourselves," stated the band's co-leader Philip Bailey. "Verdine (White), Ralph (Johnson) and I all turned 50 this year, so maintaining our health is of primary concern. But not enough people out there, especially men, see their doctors for regular checkups. Basically our message to our fans is to please take care of themselves."
Also to mark the 30th anniversary, Eagle Vision will release "Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Stars," a career retrospective documentary film that will be in stores August 21 in DVD and home video cassette formats. Negotiations are underway for a television broadcast of the biographical film directed by Kathryn Arnold and Stephanie Bennett and produced by Bennett. Leading industry trade Billboard magazine saluted the group's anniversary in the July 14th issue with a special tribute section.
Catch Earth, Wind & Fire and the newly reunited Rufus featuring Chaka Khan on "The Cool Blue September Tour" on the following dates:
September 1 Ft. Lauderdale, FL National Car Rental Center
September 3 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheater
September 5 Nashville, TN Am-South Amphitheater
September 7 Washington, DC MCI Center
September 8 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
September 9 Raleigh, NC Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek
September 11 Wallingford, CT Oakdale Theatre
September 14 Philadelphia, PA First Union Center
September 15 Wantagh, NY Jones Beach Amphitheater
September 20 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
September 22 Chicago, IL Arie Crown
September 26 Seattle, WA Key Arena
September 28 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheater
September 29 Sacramento, CA Sacramento Valley Amphitheater
September 30 Concord, CA Chronicle Pavilion
Additional dates for September and an October leg will be announced shortly.