Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago Share 6 Joint Tours and Eerie Career Parallels
Updated
Updated · Rolling Stone · Jun 20
Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago Share 6 Joint Tours and Eerie Career Parallels
1 articles · Updated · Rolling Stone · Jun 20
Summary
Questlove’s new Earth, Wind & Fire documentary highlights how closely the band’s arc mirrors Chicago’s, from late-1960s Chicago roots and jazz influence to large horn-driven lineups.
Both groups recorded key 1970s albums at Caribou Ranch, peaked commercially in the mid-1970s, and made a single notable disco-era bid in 1979—EWF with “Boogie Wonderland,” Chicago with “Street Player.”
David Foster became a pivotal parallel in the 1980s, helping deliver major hits while concentrating power around Maurice White and Peter Cetera and deepening internal strains within both bands.
Leadership losses later reshaped each act: Cetera left Chicago in 1985, Maurice White stopped touring about 10 years later after a Parkinson’s diagnosis, and Chicago this month lost founding horn player Walter Parazaider at 81.
Touring became the long-term bridge between them: unable to rely on new radio hits, Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago have shared the road 6 times since 2004, most recently in 2024.