Earth, Wind & Fire Experience 100% live

MANILA, Philippines - In this age of cheat tracks, lip sync, plus one and the kind used by a big majority of the artists Al Mckay’s Earth, Wind & Fire (EWF) experience can say straight-faced that they still perform 100 percent live. When I met Al a decade ago, he was already a big favorite in the European and Asian touring circuit. Nowadays, demand for him is at its peak.

Al has been the major driving force of Earth, Wind & Fire writing hits like September, making the group’s live and recorded arrangements and most importantly, playing lead guitar and singing vocals. Together with Earth, Wind & Fire, he has won six Grammy awards and American Music awards, and was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

As solo producer and songwriter, Al wrote and produced several platinum hits for the Emotions, including the hit Best of My Love, which gave him his sixth Grammy (Note that Earth, Wind & Fire won all the Grammy awards when Al was a member and had never won after he left). When Earth, Wind & Fire went on prolonged hiatus in the ‘80s, Al put together the All Stars band playing almost exclusively EWF songs to fill the void. Majority of the members even joined the group including Verdine and Freddy White, Andrew Woolfolk, Ralph Johnson, Johnny Graham, etc. The group has dropped the name All Stars and is currently billed as Al Mckay’s Earth, Wind & Fire Experience, whose current members include a virtual who’s who in the music industry. These include vocalists Devere Duckett who has worked with Stevie Wonder and Barry White; Tim Owens who has worked with KC & Jojo; Claude Woods; musicians Dean Gant who has worked with Madonna, Pink, TLC and Peabo Bryson; Ben Dowling who has worked with Michael Jackson and Freddie Hubbard; Ed Wynne who has worked with the Doobie Brothers, Frankie Valli, Ronnie Laws, Mary Wilson, Platters; Freddie Flewelen who has worked with Deniece Williams, the Emotions, Brian McKnight, Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, etc. Included in the line-up of EWF hits to be performed at the Newport Performing Arts Theater tomorrow, March 27, at 8 p.m. are the monster hits September, Reasons, After The Love Has Gone, Boogie Wonderland, Let’s Groove, Singasong, In The Stone, Got To Get You Into My Life, Sun Goddess, Can’t Hide Love and many more.

Tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets and the concierge at Resorts World. As I have advised my friends in the concerts of Al, better get ready to dance all night.

Al Mckay’s Earth, Wind & Fire Experience Live in Manila is presented by Resorts World and Steve O’ Neal Productions.