Dancing in September

We are so lucky to have enjoyed so much great music over the years – blues, pop, country, hip-hop, soul, R&B, rock, funk, punk, and so much more. I was driving the other day and heard one of my classic favorites from Earth, Wind & Fire. Something about their joy for music and fun got me singing out loud (no, you don’t want to hear that) and bopping around in the car, always fun to see people looking at me while driving past! The song is called “September”, and I just had to dig in and learn more about the band and the era. To really enjoy this post, just click on the link below, and if you can, turn up the volume – I’m sure it will put a smile on your face and make for a great Friday kickoff to the weekend – you can certainly appreciate the horn sections!  If you have more favorites like this, shoot me an email so I can boogie along (Boogie Nights, anyone?) Here’s to all the great bands and especially Earth, Wind & Fire. Be sure to pencil in Sunday the 21st and have a dance party at home or just boogie a little bit in the car. ENJOY!

… “do you remember” …

• Founded by Maurice White, the group became one of the most influential bands of the 1970s and ’80s. Their sound blended R&B, soul, funk, jazz, disco, pop, rock, dance, and even gospel — they were genre-bending before it was cool.
• In 1969, Maurice joined two friends in Chicago, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, as a songwriting team. They wrote songs and commercials in the Chicago area. The three friends got a recording contract with Capitol Records. Calling themselves The Salty Peppers, they had a marginal hit single in the Midwest titled “La La Time”.
• The Salty Peppers’ second single, “Uh Huh Yeah”, did not fare as well. Maurice moved from Chicago to Los Angeles. He added singer Sherry Scott and percussionist Yackov Ben Israel, both from Chicago, to the band. He asked his younger brother Verdine to join, and on June 6, 1970, Verdine moved from Chicago to LA to become the band’s bassist. Maurice began shopping demo tapes featuring Donny Hathaway to various record labels, and the band eventually signed to Warner Bros. Records.
• The band name comes from Maurice White’s astrological chart: he was a Sagittarius, whose elemental signs are earth, air (wind), and fire (now you know!!)
• They were known for big stage productions: elaborate costumes, pyramids, magic tricks, and even a levitating drum kit. They wanted concerts to feel like spiritual, almost cosmic experiences.
• They were one of the first African American bands to achieve mainstream crossover success on a massive scale, appealing to rock, pop, R&B, and even jazz fans.
• Released: November 18, 1978, “September” was originally just a new single on The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1. The song made it to Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8 in the U.S., but it became a forever hit.
• The famous nonsense lyric (“Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember…”) was actually a placeholder. Co-writer Allee Willis begged Maurice White to replace it with real words, but White insisted, “Never let a lyric get in the way of the groove.” It stuck — and became iconic. – (these are words we should all live by!).
• The song uses the date, “The 21st night of September”. Willis once asked Maurice White why he picked that date. He said it had no special meaning — it just sounded right. The randomness made it even more magical.
• Today, the song is one of the most played at weddings around the world, often ranked alongside “Shout” and “Celebration.” It’s been used in countless movies and TV shows (Night at the Museum, Trolls, The Office), commercials, and memes — especially every September 21st.
• Every September, Spotify streams for the song spike dramatically. On Sept 21, 2021, it hit 1.5 million streams in a single day.
• Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2000), Earth, Wind & Fire won 6 Grammy Awards (with 17 nominations).
• Maurice White passed away in 2016, but the band (with Verdine White, Philip Bailey, and others) continues to tour, keeping the energy alive.
• Their music is often described as joyful, spiritual, and uplifting — timeless grooves that make people move and smile. ‘September’ doesn’t just make us remember the 21st night — it makes us remember the power of music to connect generations, lift spirits, and keep us dancing long after the party’s over.

Other Earth, Wind & Fire Hits include:

“Shining Star” (1975) – Their first #1 on both pop and R&B charts.

“Fantasy” (1977) – Nominated for a Grammy.

“Let’s Groove” (1981) – Funky, synth-heavy, and pure dance floor joy.

“Boogie Wonderland” (1979, with The Emotions) – A disco anthem.

“After the Love Has Gone” (1979) – A Grammy-winning ballad.

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