LA (AP) -
Earth, Wind & Fire have found a new way to put fans in the mood on their upcoming tour. The R&B funk masters are celebrating their 30th anniversary with The Cool Blue
September Tour, sponsored by Viagra!...
Dates start in September and the group will be taking the music and a message to the masses through the fall. Earth, Wind & Fire have been pumping out musical Viagra for years but the band says there's more to maintaining the funk than just keeping a good beat.
"There's no way that we'd be able to do what we do on stage night after night for 30 years if we didn't take good care of ourselves," said band co-leader Philip Bailey. "Verdine (White), Ralph (Johnson), and I all turned 50 this year, so maintaining our health is of primary concern. But not enough people out there, especially men, see their doctors for regular checkups. Basically, our message to our fans is to please take care of themselves."
Fans attending the concert will see the legendary funk band - all 13 singers, musicians and dancers - plus support act Rufus featuring Chaka Khan.
Earth, Wind & Fire's set will comprise their numerous hits, including "Shining Star," "September," "Fantasy," "Got to Get You Into My Life," and "That's the Way of the World."
Chaka Khan's stylish vocals helped make Rufus one of the most commercially successful funk bands of the �70s. She left the group to launch a solo career in 1978, so this tour provides a rare chance to see her preform with the band that made her famous.
Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, in partnership with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Foundation, will provide free health checks at the concerts along the tour route, as well as additional health checks open to the public in several concert markets. Part of the tour merchandise proceeds will be donated to the AAFP Foundation. As part of their anniversary celebration, Earth, Wind & Fire are about to release a career retrospective documentary, "Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Stars."
While the band has confirmed shows for September 1-30, additional dates stretching through October announced shortly.
