Thank God it’s Monday,

What can you learn from Maurice White the founder of Earth, Wind, and Fire?

This past week the co-founder and mastermind behind the legendary R&B funk band Earth, Wind and Fire passed away. He was 74 years old. When I heard the news I was very sad but not surprised. I knew he had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for the past 24 years. It is the reason he stopped touring in 1994.

You might be wondering why I would be writing about this creative genius. First off, EWF is my all-time favorite band. I have seen them perform a dozen times. The picture above was taken at Summerfest in 2009 in Milwaukee, WI. My wife and I got to meet Phillip Bailey, Ralph Jonson, and Verdine White, Maurice’s brother. They were touring with the band Chicago. It was one of my favorite concerts I have attended.

The band’s style was very influential in my development as a musician, long ago.

EWF earned 20 Grammy nominations and have sold over 100 million records worldwide. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Things were not always easy nor was success a foregone conclusion. They struggled early on. In 1972, the band was in turmoil due to personality conflicts and a lack of a mutual vision. That is when Maurice cleaned house. He brought in new musicians, which was the catalyst for their future success. Without this courageous move, White would have never realized his dream of creating a transformative band that would turn R&B on its’ head.

His vision created a truly unique sound. It melded funky rhythms, melodic harmonies, with a powerful horn section that was a tapestry of music perfection.

There is a powerful lesson in how Maurice took control of the bands destiny. He would not accept anything less than excellence. For EWF to become iconic, world class, and revolutionary in the music industry, they required courage and bold action. Maurice also needed to be fearless in the face of adversity while striving for his dreams. He taught us when your team or in his case the band, does not resonate with your vision, get a new team. He showed us to believe in your vision even when the doubters are singing their own tune.

R.I.P. Maurice. Thank you for the countless hours of amazing music. You have touched millions of hearts with your music. You also provided us with a blueprint for success.

I would like to know, who are some of your favorite bands? Please list them below. It would be fun to see your responses.

Live inspired be abundant,