R&B veteran group Earth, Wind and Fire has been selected as 2019 Kennedy Center Honorees, reports Variety.
The kudos will be handed out Dec. 8 at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C. “The Kennedy Center Honors celebrates icons who, through their artistry, have left an indelible stamp on our collective cultural consciousness,” stated Kennedy Center chairman David Rubenstein.
“Earth, Wind & Fire’s hooks and grooves are the foundation of a seminal style that continues to shape our musical landscape.” Earth, Wind & Fire (EWF) is a music institution. Over group’s five-decade history, it’s sold out concerts all around the globe, scored eight No. 1 hits and selling more than 100 million albums worldwide, making EWF one of the best-selling musical groups of all time. The group has won an impressive nine GRAMMY® Awards, including one for Lifetime Achievement (2012).
In 2000, Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, cementing their lasting impact on popular music. In recognition of the group’s record-breaking success, Earth, Wind & Fire was awarded Lifetime Achievement honors from ASCAP, NAACP and BET, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Invited to perform for Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, the latter later stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that Earth, Wind & Fire is a “rhythm and blues and pop staple.”
With a sound that blends funk, jazz, pop, soul and R&B, Earth, Wind & Fire can’t be confined to a specific label. Their timeless songs have bridged the gap among generations and nationalities.
