02 Oct
883: “Shining Star” becomes Earth, Wind & Fire first and only #1 hit in the US
With several booty-shakin’ songs and an electrifying stage show, Earth, Wind & Fire stand up as one of the great pop-funk acts of the 70s. Despite a faithful hippie college following and contributing a memorable score to Melvin Van Peeble’s pioneering blaxploitation film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song,” it wasn’t until the key 1972 addition of startling crooner Philip Bailey that EWF’s struggle to the top really started to gain momentum. By 1975, EWF broke with “Shining Star,” their first and only #1 hit in the US.
Official Earth, Wind & Fire website
Earth, Wind & Fire on AllMusic.com