Object Details
Artist
Bruce W. Talamon, born 31 Jul 1949
Sitter
Maurice White, 19 Dec 1941 - 4 Feb 2016
Verdine White, born 25 Jul 1951
Ralph Johnson, born 4 Jul 1951
Philip Bailey, born 8 May 1951
Larry Dunn, born 19 Jun 1953
Al McKay, born 2 Feb 1948
Exhibition Label
Earth, Wind & Fire
Front row, left to right: Verdine White, Maurice White, Johnny Graham; middle row: Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn; top row: Andrew Woolfolk, Fred White, Al McKay
Under the leadership of founder and principal singer Maurice White (1941–2016), the band Earth, Wind & Fire developed a lush, horn-driven sound that fused elements of jazz, funk, R&B, and gospel. With chart-topping hits, such as “Shining Star” (1975), “September” (1978), and “Boogie Wonderland” (1979), the band sold more than ninety million albums worldwide (including fifty Gold and Platinum albums), received seven Grammy Awards, and secured a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
Commissioned to create a portrait of Earth, Wind & Fire in 1978, photographer Bruce Talamon wanted to represent the band’s members as superheroes. Shooting from a low vantage point, he photo graphed each of the nine musicians individually. He then laboriously assembled the portraits (working without the benefit of Photoshop, which did not exist in 1978) to yield a seamless, composite image. This heroic group portrait was the result.
Earth, Wind & Fire
Fila frontal, desde la izquierda: Verdine White, Maurice White, Johnny Graham; fila central: Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn; fila superior: Andrew Woolfolk, Fred White, Al McKay
Bajo la guía de su fundador y cantante principal, Maurice White (1941–2016), la banda Earth, Wind & Fire desarrolló un sonido suntuoso, con énfasis en los viento-metales, que fusionaba elementos de jazz, funk, R&B y góspel. Encabezando las listas de éxitos con canciones como “Shining Star” (1975), “September” (1978) y “Boogie Wonderland” (1979), vendieron más de 90 millones de álbumes en el mundo (incluidos 50 discos de oro y platino), obtuvieron siete premios Grammy y se aseguraron un lugar en el Salón de la Fama del Rock & Roll en el año 2000. Bruce Talamon, quien recibió el encargo de retratar a Earth, Wind & Fire en 1978, quiso repre sentarlos como superhéroes. Fotografió a cada uno por separado, con tomas desde abajo. Luego inició la ardua labor de unir los retratos (sin las ventajas de Photoshop, que no existía en 1978) hasta lograr una imagen fluida, sin “costuras” aparentes. El resultado fue este heroico retrato grupal.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; acquired through the generosity of Randi Charno Levine
Date
1978 (printed 2019)
Object number
NPG.2019.114
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© Bruce W. Talamon
Type
Photograph
Medium
Inkjet print
Dimensions
Image: 85.4 × 68.4 cm (33 5/8 × 26 15/16")
Sheet: 101.9 × 76.5 cm (40 1/8 × 30 1/8")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Music\Musical instrument\Guitar
Maurice White: Male
Maurice White: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Producer
Maurice White: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Songwriter
Maurice White: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Singer
Maurice White: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Percussionist\Drummer
Maurice White: Performing arts awards\Grammy
Maurice White: Portrait of a Nation
Verdine White: Male
Verdine White: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician
Verdine White: Performing arts awards\Grammy
Verdine White: Portrait of a Nation
Philip Bailey: Male
Philip Bailey: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician
Philip Bailey: Performing arts awards\Grammy
Philip Bailey: Portrait of a Nation
Ralph Johnson: Male
Ralph Johnson: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician
Ralph Johnson: Performing arts awards\Grammy
Al McKay: Male
Al McKay: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician
Al McKay: Performing arts awards\Grammy
Larry Dunn: Male
Larry Dunn: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician
Larry Dunn: Performing arts awards\Grammy
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.2019.114