INTERVIEW: Earth, Wind & Fire Talks 'Sing A Song All Night' Tour, Maurice White, Music Legacy, Longevity + More

Summary

---

The Breakfast Club — Interview: Earth, Wind & Fire

Episode Theme:
Celebrating the legendary legacy, timeless music, and ongoing impact of Earth, Wind & Fire, their journey from humble beginnings to international stardom, the influence of Maurice White, and the group’s philosophy on music, healing, and longevity.

Original Air Date: July 15, 2026
Host(s): DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, with Angela Yee
Guest(s): Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson (Earth, Wind & Fire)

---

Episode Overview

The Breakfast Club welcomes music icons Earth, Wind & Fire for an in-depth interview centered on their new 'Sing A Song All Night' tour, the legacy and philosophy of late founder Maurice White, spanning generations with their music, navigating the music business, and what it means to have a truly global, enduring impact.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Longevity & Passion for Performing

• ETW&F’s Enduring Appeal:
  Verdine White marvels, “Just sold out Madison Square Garden with Lionel night before last and just, you know, living life...Couldn't imagine that when we started this in our 20s, that we'd be 75 and, and still doing it.” (03:51)
• Why They Still Love Music:
  Verdine White: “I would have played music for free. Fortunately, I get paid for it...It's a passion and it's wonderful that it makes a lot of other people happy and bring so much joy.” (04:20)

2. Maurice White’s Spiritual Influence & Philosophy (05:05–08:52)

• Charlamagne Tha God asks if they still feel Maurice White’s presence:
  Verdine White: “Every note, every stick, every beat, every—Because, you know, it's like part of his...DNA is heart.” (05:14)
• On intentionality in music:
  Philip Bailey: “He wanted to render a service to humanity, you know...people remember where they were when those songs came on, how they feel about things. So he was...on a high plane.” (06:28)
• Maurice’s reading habits:
  Ralph Johnson: “He was a tremendous reader of books...Napoleon Hill, you know, 'Think and Grow Rich'...The Master Key to Riches, the Laws of Success.” (08:03)

3. Origins: From the Salty Peppers to Earth, Wind & Fire (09:05–10:55)

• The evolution of the band name:
  Philip Bailey: “Reese [Maurice White] made Earth, Wind & Fire from his astrological chart because he had no water...it was earth, air, and fire. But he changed the air to wind...Earth, wind, and fire was definitely all the elements that we...every day. The moon, the sky...” (10:09)

4. The Legacy of “September” and Its Universal Appeal (10:55–14:03)

• Charlamagne Tha God asks about the date:
  Verdine White: “You're gonna hear a whole bunch of stuff about that one...he never said anything about it, you know, but at any rate, he...said it sounded good.” (11:02)
• Philip Bailey: “It was a filler in the middle of...a greatest hits record that it was used to, was not really on an album, and...it's been a hit five times.” (11:29)
• Angela Yee notes the generational reach:
  "...you play that at, like, a family cookout, family gathering...kids know it. Because they're growing up on it. It's being passed down through generations, which is...insane…” (12:47)

Notable Quote

• Verdine White, on not recognizing “September” at first:
  “True confession about ‘September’...we're listening to the...project that September was on. We got to September, we played it. I was like, yeah, I don't know...I was wrong.” (13:06/13:30)

5. Timelessness of Earth, Wind & Fire’s Music (13:03–15:01)

• “What do you think it is about your music that just refuses to age?” (Charlamagne, 13:03)
• Philip Bailey: “Well, you could do long sax solos. Guitar solos...Sun Goddess, like 13 minutes long.” (14:37)
• Charlamagne’s take: “Some of these records need to be short 'cause they're terrible...But, can timeless music still exist in this streaming era?” (14:46)
• Verdine White: “I don't think music is ever going to have that kind of space...But you know, you never know.” (15:01)

6. Music & Commerce: Political Use, Licensing, and Commercialization (20:14–21:37)

• DJ Envy asks about song use in campaigns.
  Verdine White: “Certain people use our stuff, you know, it's like we like forget that, you know, that ain't us...until you check them...there’s really no...recall...” (20:56)
• On “cease and desist” letters:
  Ralph Johnson: “If you get that cease and desist, you should probably—”
  Philip Bailey: “Yeah, it shuts it down.” (21:33/21:36)

7. Stories from the Road (21:40–23:09)

• Wildest tour experiences:
  Verdine White: “We got back to the hotel...there in front of his room was a buck naked lady.” (21:46)
  Ralph Johnson: “There was a lady chanting buck naked in front of my door...I backed back on the elevator, went down and got security…” (22:07) Verdine White: “I go in. This lady's in the bathtub, got candles and stuff. She didn’t told the people that she's my wife.” (22:32)

8. Business Lessons & Financial Struggles (23:22–27:30)

• Charlamagne references the HBO documentary:
  “When did y’all finally get the business right?...Because, y'all had some financial struggles, and I was shocked to see that y'all were in debt.” (23:22)
• Verdine White: “You just move in and you don't think the money's gonna dry up...gotta get burnt pretty bad before you actually start to, you know, have some...financial sense about yourself.” (23:48)
• Pre-corporate sponsorship era:
  Philip Bailey: “When all that was happening, that was before the age of corporate sponsorship…nothing. You were just paying as you go along...” (24:46)
• Making less than the roadies:
  Charlamagne: “Was there a point where you were really making less than the roadie?”
  Verdine White: “Yeah. Yeah. For a long time.” (25:07)
• On forgiveness and group dynamics:
  Ralph Johnson: “It got personal, and that's why some people never returned. That's how personal it got. They didn't want anything to do with it moving forward.” (27:21) Philip Bailey: “And you learn how to forgive and keep it moving…We've been doing it longer without Reese than we were with Reese.” (27:30)

9. Historic Milestones & Meaning of Madision Square Garden (27:39–29:06)

• Angela Yee: “You guys were the first African American act to sell out Madison Square Garden…did it feel glamorous?”
• Verdine White: “No, it felt glamorous. Gardner has always been glamorous to...any artist.” (28:00)
• Philip Bailey: “And the thing about it now, it's a multicultural audience. It's all ages, all...races of people, and they're enjoying the same thing...” (28:24)

10. Books, Legacy, and Final Thoughts (29:08–30:46)

• Ralph Johnson plugs his memoir:
  “Rhythm & Fire, A Life in Harmony With Earth, Wind & Fire...after being in the group for 55 years, I decided it was time to write a book, and so I did.” (29:11)
• Charlamagne: “What do you hope they're saying about your legacy 50 years from now?” (29:38)
• Verdine White: “Here's a band that did music...their intention was greater than themselves...I hope that it lives on.” (29:42)
• Ralph Johnson: “I hope they realize we made a tremendous contribution to the artistic and cultural fabric of the globe.” (30:04)
• Philip Bailey jokes: “And 50 years from now, when we come back again on the Breakfast show, all of us will be AI.” (30:14)

11. Gratitude & Farewell (30:24–30:46)

• Verdine White: “Big up to you guys, because we're in rarefied atmosphere being with you guys. It's an honor to be here...Thank you for inviting us.” (30:24)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Music as Healing:
  “He [Maurice White] wanted to render a service to humanity, you know...he was on a high plane.”
  — Philip Bailey (06:28)

• On the “September” phenomenon:
  “If you come into our show and you hear September, you’re late...Because it’s the last song we do.”
  — Ralph Johnson (12:02)

• On the secret to staying power:
  “I would have played music for free. Fortunately, I get paid for it.”
  — Verdine White (04:20)

• On business lessons:
  “It's not about the money. It’s about the money.”
  — Philip Bailey (25:42)

• Forgiveness in the group:
  “You learn how to forgive and keep it moving.”
  — Philip Bailey (27:30)

• Legacy aspirations:
  “Here's a band that did music, and their intention was greater than themselves...rendering a service to the humanity.”
  — Verdine White (29:42)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:51 – Tour updates and loving the stage after 50+ years
• 05:05 – Feeling Maurice White’s spiritual presence, healing intentions in music
• 07:07 – Finding Maurice’s philosophy & favorite readings
• 09:05 – Origin story: Salty Peppers to Earth, Wind & Fire
• 10:55 – Why “September” (the date and the song) endures
• 14:10 – Long vs. short songs, music industry changes
• 20:14 – Music in politics, licensing songs, cease & desist stories
• 21:40 – Craziest on-the-road stories
• 23:22 – Business struggles, financial lessons, group forgiveness
• 27:39 – Madison Square Garden & history-making performances
• 29:08 – Ralph Johnson's memoir
• 29:38 – The band's legacy and hopes for how they’ll be remembered

---

Tone & Style

Earth, Wind & Fire are candid, warm and philosophical—sharing laughs, wisdom, and humility, all while exuding appreciation for their fans, their late founder Maurice White, and for each other as brothers-in-music. The hosts honor them with reverence while keeping the conversation lively and insightful, interweaving funny anecdotes and hard-learned business lessons with discussions on spiritual purpose and intergenerational impact.

---

This episode is a must for fans and anyone interested in music, legacy, culture, and what it means to let creativity serve a greater good.

Transcript

[Angela Yee]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human pressure has a way of

[Commercial Narrator]

revealing what remains steady. In the latest Nissan campaign, the Nissan Rogue was tested to the extreme to demonstrate that it's built to last through durability and reliability challenges inspired by real tests conducted by Nissan engineers. Brutal potholes, a steady force of water, even a jet powered sandstorm. Each challenge inviting a deeper look at how quality, durability and reliability hold hold their ground in real world conditions. Every test was 100% real. No CG, no AI. To see how the Rogue held up, visit nissan-duordability.com you know one thing I

[Angela Yee]

had to unlearn was treating my textured hair like everybody else's. For years I followed all of the popular advice, tried the trends and used products that worked for other people. But my hair was still dry, it was breaking and it just wasn't retaining any length. Not the length I wanted anyway. It was so frustrating because I felt like I was doing everything right but still not seeing any results. Everything changed when I realized my hair needed products made specifically for textured hair. That's why I love Baskin Lather. I've been especially enjoying the stimulating scalp and hair balm because it helps me nourish and hydrate my hair without feeling like it's greasy. It's made with 100% natural ingredients, helps reduce breakage, adds shine and supports healthier looking hair over time. I also love the hydrating Hair Mist which helps keep my soft hair moisturized and helps fight dryness and frizz. And I love the story behind the brand. Basque and Lather is a black owned and family operated company created by founder Shayna and her mother when they developed their own hair care line solutions. When her younger sister was told that her hair may never grow back. Today her hair reaches down to her hips, honey. Looking at the before and the after results on the site, it's easy to see why so many people swear by these products. Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of all types from Baskin lather. Go to baskinlatherco.com and use code Breakfast Club for 20% off. That's 20% off at Baskinlather Cold Breakfast Club.

[Commercial Narrator]

You've been working in the garage with your dad every week, Monday to Sunday, trying to get the old school up and running. Today, after all the hard work, y' all finally finished it. Even better. Your dad says all your son? Yep. Same car that belongs to your grandpa that your dad helped him fix is yours. To really keep the tradition going, you need to get State Farm Insurance just like them generation to generation. Remember to choose the agents that your family counted on. Like a good neighbor.

[Angela Yee]

State Farm is there Maintenance fee, Overdraft fee. Minimum balance fee. Maximum balance fee. Banking fees are just a part of modern life. Or are they? They're not. At Ally Bank. At Ally bank, there are no tricks, no hidden fine print or jumping through hoops for a better rate. They just want to help you save automatically while you spend with spending accounts and savings tools with great rates. No tricks, no hidden fees. Banking built for life today. Learn [e-mail] Ally Bank Member FDIC

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club Finished or y' all done?

[DJ Envy]

Morning everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne, the God we are the Breakfast Club. La Rosa is here as well. We got some special guests in the building, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We got, we, we, we say legend sometimes. And they don't really be legends.

[DJ Envy]

They be like kind of legendary, award winning icons, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Eight number one hits. Sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, 23 albums. Eight of those albums went double platinum and hit the top 10. Goddamn.

[DJ Envy]

And a soundtrack to a lot of our lives and our mama lives. Ladies and gentlemen, Earth, Wind and Fire, Welcome.

[Philip Bailey]

Good morning.

[Commercial Narrator]

Good morning.

Good morning.

[Verdine White]

How are y' all feeling? We feeling good. We're feeling good. We're out touring and having a good time. Just sold out Madison Square Garden with Lionel night before last and just, you know, living life. Living life and having a good time. Couldn't imagine that when we started this in our 20s, that we'd be 75 and, and still doing it.

[DJ Envy]

You know what makes you still enjoy it after all these years? Still love going on tour, still doing those things.

[Verdine White]

I would have played music for free. Fortunately, I get paid for it.

[DJ Envy]

Yep.

[Verdine White]

But yeah, it's a, you know, it's a passion and it's wonderful that it makes a lot of other people happy and bring so much joy to so many people. Like you say our music has become part of the soundtrack of so many people's lives now. And we wouldn't have been able to even imagine that, you know, starting out, but we just wanted to be in the best band in the world. Whole world. And, and Billboard just nominated, right?

[Ralph Johnson]

That's right.

[Verdine White]

Yeah.

[Ralph Johnson]

Billboard came out and said that when

[Verdine White]

it fires the greatest R and B,

[Ralph Johnson]

R and B band of all time,

[Charlamagne Tha God]

you would have said that 20 years ago.

[Verdine White]

Now, you know, you got a point.

[Ralph Johnson]

Took us a little longer.

[Philip Bailey]

I guess they just catching up, right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They just catching up and rest in peace to Maurice White. Absolutely. You know what I mean? Got to say that when you're on stage now, do you feel him on stage with y'?

[Verdine White]

All? Every note, every stick, every. Every beat, every. Because, you know, it's like part of his. You know, his DNA is heart. So, yeah, we can't. You can't play Earth Wind Fire music without Maurice being there.

[Philip Bailey]

And, you know, you feel him, you know, on stage, particularly when you do those great songs like that's the Way the World, all those wonderful songs that people grew up on. And so, as Philip said, you know, we feel them every night.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I always heard Brother Maurice talk about music as something spiritual. Like, do you think people underestimate how intentional he was about healing people through music and how intentional y' all are as a group about healing people through music?

[Verdine White]

Well, you know, as he evolved in his, you know, evolution of spiritual enlightenment, he just really came to understand what a high art that the music is and its ability to transform, to heal. To heal.

[Commercial Narrator]

Right.

[Verdine White]

You know, and so that was what we went about, making sure that our intentions was in the music in that way, that it would make a positive difference in those who heard it.

[Philip Bailey]

Now, when he wanted to. I'm sorry. And he also. The chime in. He wanted to render a service to humanity, you know, and. And as we're seeing now, where people remember where they were when those songs came on, how they feel about things. So he was. He was on a high plane.

[Ralph Johnson]

That's definitely on a mission.

[Philip Bailey]

On a mission.

[Ralph Johnson]

No doubt about that.

[Angela Yee]

But I think that's why all these years later, people still really live like generations live with your music very differently. Y' all can sell out wherever you guys go because it's a service to people. And a lot of artists don't understand that their art can be of service.

[Verdine White]

Yeah, yeah. The music was for a higher purpose.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Real quick, there's. And maybe y' all can answer this for me. I always wondered, where could I go to learn more about Maurice White's philosophy on life? Did he ever get an opportunity to explain that anywhere?

[Verdine White]

Well, you know, you just. I mean, just listening to. To all of the music and not just the. The stuff that's on the main line, but, you know, the. The other cuts and stuff. You know, I mean, Maurice was very open about the fact that he was a student of life and one that was just allowing, you know, the power of the creativity to come through him. You know, and so he stayed very open to, you know, that inspiration at all times and taught us to do the. You know, the same. And taught us by. By example, really, you know, and he

[Ralph Johnson]

had quite a library, too. He was a tremendous reader of books, you know, and certainly some books that he turned me on to. Napoleon Hill, you know, thinking, growing rich. Yeah, there you go.

[Verdine White]

Yeah.

[Ralph Johnson]

The master key to riches, the laws of success.

[Philip Bailey]

And, you know, the thing about it is he had traveled the world before he was in Earth, Wind and Fire, before he started Earth, Wind and Fire. So we were learning, and so we sort of grew up on the road, you know, and. And watching him do what he did, and of course, you know, pulling from the greats, Miles Davis, all those wonderful artists that he pulled from, too. So we were very fortunate to. To learn from a great teacher what

[Charlamagne Tha God]

was something that he taught you that had nothing to do with music, but everything to do with life.

[Verdine White]

It is, you know, like, you have. Keep your hands and hearts open.

[Philip Bailey]

Right.

[Verdine White]

You know?

[Ralph Johnson]

Right.

[Verdine White]

Still do this. You. Nothing comes in, nothing goes outside. Right. You know, but, you know, you have. You know, you have to give and you have to keep your hands open. So you. You know, and. And it's reciprocal. It comes back to you.

[DJ Envy]

I was Gonna ask in 1969, when this band was created, y', all, this. And it was first originally the Salty Peppers.

[Philip Bailey]

Oh, the Salty. Yeah, the Salty Peppers.

[Ralph Johnson]

Yeah.

[Philip Bailey]

Right.

[DJ Envy]

Did you ever think that it would come this far to the lives that you changed, the love you put in people's hearts? Did you ever. Was that always the goal and the key?

[Ralph Johnson]

When you're first getting into this thing, you don't know where it's going to go. You just hope that the outcome is a very positive outcome. But coming into a band, you don't know what's going to happen, you know, and you don't know what kind of success, if any, that you will have. You just have to believe in what you're doing.

[Verdine White]

Yeah, right. Yeah, right.

[Ralph Johnson]

Absolutely.

[Philip Bailey]

I think the first time we ever heard one of our tunes, I think it was mighty, mighty. And we were in the car and we jumped out the car because, you know, when you hear your work and you hear it and you hear it back at you, you know, it's just. It's very powerful and it's. And those songs live on today, man.

[DJ Envy]

Now, so from Salty Peppers to Earth, Wind and Fire, how did that name change happen?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, from Seasonings to Elements. Yeah, yeah.

[Philip Bailey]

Well, you know, Reese's, he made Earth Under Fire from his astrological chart because he had no water.

[Ralph Johnson]

No water in the chart at all.

[Philip Bailey]

In his chart, it Was earth, air, and fire. But he changed the air to wind, and it was salted peppers. Would have been a little corny by

[Verdine White]

now,

[Philip Bailey]

but earth, wind, and fire was definitely all the elements that we. Every day. The moon, the sky, you know, and. And he wrote songs too, but head to the sky, things like that. And so, yeah, so it went.

[Verdine White]

It.

[Philip Bailey]

It went a long way. And we didn't even know, you know, we didn't know.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Can you tell me about the night of September 21st? Like, why, why, why September 21st?

[Verdine White]

Like, you're gonna hear. You're gonna hear a whole bunch of stuff about that one. Somebody said, well, it was Kabran's due date, Right. As long as I known Reese, he never said anything. He never said anything about it, you know, but at any rate, he, you know, he said it sounded good.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah,

[Verdine White]

it sounded good.

[Ralph Johnson]

It was working, you know? Yeah. Say, do you remember.

[Philip Bailey]

And it was a filler.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What?

[Philip Bailey]

It was a filler in the middle of a. A greatest hits record that it was used to, was not really on an album. Album, and. And it's been a hit five times.

[Angela Yee]

That's crazy. As a filler.

[Verdine White]

If.

[Philip Bailey]

Matter of fact, I was checking your show out when Taylor Swift did her version of it and you went off. He said, how could you, you know, change the lyrics and change the sound of it? You know, you can't mess with that. And, man, people went nuts. You know, if you.

[Ralph Johnson]

Go ahead, Dean, now, I was going to say, if you come into our show and you hear September, you're Late.

[Philip Bailey]

Oh, yeah.

[Ralph Johnson]

Because it's the last song we do.

[Philip Bailey]

Right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, and it's globally recognized as the UN's International Day of Peace. I don't know if that was what came first.

[Verdine White]

I didn't even know that.

[Commercial Narrator]

Yeah, you didn't know that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, it's recognized. Look that up, Lauren. I'm pretty sure that's right. I'm pretty sure it's looked at as the UN's International Day of Peace. So I was wondering if there's some type of correlation. But I don't know what came first.

[Philip Bailey]

People just picked the song when they hear it, you know, because they relate to it in a lot of different kind of ways. And now, you know, we got kids 5 years old that know the songs and don't know who we are, you

[DJ Envy]

know, so the song feels good.

[Angela Yee]

That's what I mean by generationally. Like, it's serving people. Because, like, you play that at, like, a family cookout, family gathering, like, whatever, like the kids know It. Because they're growing up on it. It's being passed down through generations, which is also insane too, because it's music. It's not tangible, but it is, I guess, like, you know, what do you

[Charlamagne Tha God]

think it is about your music that. That just refuses the age.

[Verdine White]

All right, well, first true confession about September, because we used to listen to all the music once we got finished doing, you know, our projects and stuff. And so we're listening to the. The project that September was on. We got to September, we played it. I was like, yeah, I don't know.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, you didn't hear it at first?

[Verdine White]

Yeah. I don't know, guys. I was like, I don't know. I was wrong.

[Ralph Johnson]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did you ask, like, what the hell is a body?

[Verdine White]

No, I, you know, I sang it. It was me, Reese, doing all the voices. So. So, but, but I didn't ask that. But I just didn't. I didn't think, I thought it was so simple because all the other songs had so many, you know, changes and all that kind of stuff, you know, and so it was, it was great then and it's great now, and I didn't know it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Classic.

[DJ Envy]

We're doing music now, Right. Do you ever look back, right? Songs used to be seven minutes long.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Right.

[DJ Envy]

Eight minutes long, nine minutes long. And you caught every piece of it.

[Philip Bailey]

That's right.

[DJ Envy]

Now songs are two minutes long.

[Verdine White]

That's right.

[DJ Envy]

Could you do a song in his day and age, a two minute song?

[Verdine White]

Yeah, of course. You know, you just have to cut out all the extras, you know. Cause yeah, y' all don't listen to stuff for long nowadays. It's like, give it to me, dude, and get over it.

[Angela Yee]

Because back then y' all was talking them through it. Now it's.

[Ralph Johnson]

Yeah.

[Verdine White]

You know, like.

[DJ Envy]

But that's some of the best parts

[Philip Bailey]

of the songs though.

[Verdine White]

Yeah.

[Philip Bailey]

Well, you could do long sack solos. Guitar solos.

[Verdine White]

Yeah, Sun Goddess, you know, sun goddess, like 13 minutes long. Thirteen, that's right. Exactly.

[Philip Bailey]

Wow.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I mean, some of these records need to be short cuz they're terrible. So I, I don't have a problem with that. Now, today's music industry, like Envy was saying it, Reward, speed, right? Earth, Wind and fire, y' all built timeless records. Can timeless music still exist in this, like, streaming era?

[Verdine White]

You know, I always think that because music was so important in our era because there wasn't all the other intangibles. Now you got 1900 things to do on your phone and you know, like, it's, it's, you know, there's so much, so many other things vying for your attention. I don't, I don't think music is ever going to be, you know, that have that kind of space, you know, anymore. But you know, you never know.

[Philip Bailey]

Well yeah, just to back up what Philip was saying, the wait was worth it.

[Commercial Narrator]

Positive affirmations and all the hard work, the keys to your dream home from the vision board have been secured. I see you. A whole new future awaits your planning. From top notch decor but on a budget to late night backyard summer cookouts, life feels good. Now comes the time to fill it with memories. What will you host first? Maybe movie night, game night stories that make us laugh and spades tournaments that make us cry. First you need to get movers and new furniture. And what about party favors? Will there be a thing? Of course it's thing because you're always doing the most oh yeah, the food to cook or order out. Don't forget to put it in the group chat so everybody can already see who gonna be there. All that planning can be stressful, but ensuring your home shouldn't be. And that's where State Farm comes in. Because State Farm agents can help you choose the coverage you need. Just call, go online or check out the app. An agent is ready to help so you can focus on showing off your new home. If you know, you know like a good neighbor, State Farm is there Back

to School shopping is about more than just checking off a list. It's about helping kids feel confident walking into a new school year. Whether it's a favorite notebook, a cool backpack, or the perfect pair of shoes, Target is there to make a big difference. Target is showing up for families this back to school season with a huge variety of school supplies, apparel and accessories that help kids do their thing and express their personal style. And with low prices all season long, parents can feel good about getting everything they need at a great value. Think backpacks starting at just $5 and save up to 60% on school supplies. Plus, Target has the brands and collaborations kids are excited about, including Love Shack, Fancy Cat and Jack Overtime and even personalized Oala bottles with stickers, charms and more. With the prices parents want and the brands kids love, Target has everything you need for back to school shopping one place because when kids feel confident heading into the school year, parents feel good too.

[Angela Yee]

You know, one thing I had to unlearn was treating my textured hair like everybody else's. For years, I followed all of the popular advice, tried the trends and used products that worked for other people. But my hair was still dry, it was breaking and it just wasn't retaining any length. Not the length I wanted anyway. It was so frustrating because I felt like I was doing everything right but still not seeing any results. Everything changed when I realized my hair needed products made specifically for textured hair. That's why I love Baskin Lather. I've been especially enjoying the stimulating scalp and hair balm because it helps me nourish and hydrate my hair without feeling like it's greasy. It's made with 100 natural ingredients, helps reduce breakage, add shine and supports healthier looking hair over time. I also love the hydrating Hair Mist which helps keep my soft hair moisturized and helps fight dryness and frizz. And I love the story behind the brand. Baskin Lather is a black owned and family operated company created by founder Shayna and her mother when they developed their own hair care line solutions when a younger sister was told that her hair may never grow back. Today her hair reaches down to her hips, honey. Looking at the before and the after results on the site, it's easy to see why so many people swear by these products. Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of all types from Baskin lather. Go to baskinlatherco.com and use code Breakfast Club for 20% off. That's 20% [e-mail] Cold Breakfast Club hey, who out there can get stressed out about money? Raise your hand. Okay, other than some kids listening in their parents car and the odd billionaire, I'm assuming that everyone is raising their hand because money, right? Except Ally Bank. With those guys there are no tricks, no hidden fees, no hidden fine print. Ally is a bank and this is kind of crazy. They want to take care of you and your money. They've got tools to help you save automatically while you spend Ally Surprise Savings automatically analyzes your spending to find you savings so you can save more for the things that matter to you. Like when I moved across the country from LA back to the east coast and landed my gig at the Breakfast Club, money management was essential. During a move like that. They even look out for your mental state. For real. They have a free financial wellness program called Money Roots that helps you understand how your money mindset impacts your physical, mental and social well being. I'm like are they really even a bank? And yeah they are. And a great one. Banking built for life today. Learn [e-mail] Ally Bank Member FDIC Other

[Philip Bailey]

things that have occupied the space of music you know, you know, sports, politics, you know, it's been in the same space, you know, and, and they've used, and they use music, so they take up the space of using, listening to our songs, you know, for their commercials. And because our songs in commercial commercials, every day you hear it, you can hear it in the store, you can hear it on television. So, you know, it's take A lot of other things have taken the space of music, you know.

[DJ Envy]

Do you like when sometimes I know that the songs go political. Right. So political people use the songs for their campaign. Does that bother you? Do you cut it or do you just say, hey, let the checks come in?

[Verdine White]

Well, no, certain, certain people use our stuff. You know, it's like we like forget that, you know, that ain't, that ain't us, you know, but you, we, you, you really have no. Until you check them, there's, there's really no, you know, recall to, to, you know, people using your music.

[Angela Yee]

Do the cease and desist when you send them after that, like, I know that happened with Trump. Does that actually, like, make them, like, does that change? Does like when you send a cease and desist, like, do people actually pay attention and care about that or do they still.

[Verdine White]

Yeah, most times, yeah. Because it becomes a legal issue.

[Ralph Johnson]

So, yeah, if you get that cease and desist, you should probably.

[Philip Bailey]

Yeah, it shuts it down.

[Commercial Narrator]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Now, after all the, you know, decades on the road, what's one of the craziest stories you've seen on the road?

[Verdine White]

The craziest for me was back when we were touring and we would rent out a floor.

[Ralph Johnson]

Yeah.

[Verdine White]

And we got back to the hotel and our drummer, Freddie Maurice and Verding's brother, there in front of his room was a buck naked lady.

[Ralph Johnson]

That was me.

[Verdine White]

No, that was me.

[Ralph Johnson]

That was me.

[Verdine White]

I came. It was in Chicago, man.

[Ralph Johnson]

Wait a minute, hold it. I came up, got up. My room was right by the elevator, got off the elevator and there was a lady chanting buck naked in front of my door. Nami oring akyo number. I was like, okay, I'll be right back. I backed back on the elevator, went down and got security said, do something

[Verdine White]

with this, you know, and people could go to the front desk and tell them different things. They'd give you your key. I was in, in San Francisco one time and came, got, came home from the show and went to open my door and the, and the, and the double lock was on there. So I say, I look at my key, you know, look, this is like. So I go down, ask Them to unlock the door. They said, well, you must have locked it some kind of way. I go in. This lady's in the bathtub, got candles and stuff. She didn't told the people that she's my wife.

[Commercial Narrator]

Damn.

[Verdine White]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Now we get to understand why September

[Verdine White]

21st was a special date for somebody.

[Angela Yee]

Okay, now we're getting to the real right now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I was, you know, watching the documentary on hbo. When did y' all finally get the business right? Because, you know, y'. All. Y' all had some financial struggles, and I was. I was shocked to see that y' all would indoors in debt.

[Verdine White]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like, when did y' all finally get that right?

[Verdine White]

Yesterday. Yeah, this, man, we just did a.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Finally got it together. We're back. Back in the back.

[Verdine White]

No, but you know, you know, the true. Truthfully, no one could have predicted when we are putting together this band that, okay, we're gonna sell out five nights at Wembley. We're gonna sell five nights at the Forum, you know, and, you know, all these different things, and when you don't. You haven't been used to having that kind of money and stuff, you don't know that this stuff is going to run out and stuff. So, like, all of the things that we were trying to do that Maurice was trying to do with the production and all that kind of stuff, and I. And I bet you. I bet you management probably took him to the bank too, you know, because, you know, basically you just move in and you don't think the money's gonna dry up and all that kind of stuff. You don't have no history, so you gotta get burnt pretty bad before you actually start to, you know, have some physical, I mean, some financial sense about yourself.

[Philip Bailey]

And in our. And when all that was happening, that was before the age of corporate sponsorship, you know, before later on, that's when all the other acts got corporate sponsorship, you know, from car companies, different things. And there was nothing. You were just paying as you go along so you can do the shows, you know.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, was there a point where you were really making less than the roadie?

[Verdine White]

Yeah. Yeah. For a long time.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah. Wow.

[Verdine White]

But we didn't know, though, you know, like, we. Because we were. We. We were just happy to be in

[Philip Bailey]

the building,

[Verdine White]

you know, and we come from. We come from, you know. You know, families that don't have no money and all that kind of stuff. So, you know, when. When all. When your needs are met and stuff, you're like just especially, you know, 21 years old, you know, you don't Know that, you know, okay, the roadies make three times as much as you are.

[Philip Bailey]

And you don't know it's. You don't know it's a business until later, you know, and then you find out, you know, it's not about the money. It's about the money.

[Angela Yee]

What's the process been like making all of that right now? What's the process? Or what was the process like, trying to make all of that right? Like, all of the money.

[Verdine White]

Getting good representation, you know, and people, you know, teaching you, you know, bringing you up to speed, you know? You know, so that, you know, it took. It took some years. Unfortunately for us, you know, we have. We've been heading up the band 40 years now, you know, and the. The Theresa's. What, 20?

[Ralph Johnson]

20? Yeah, about 20.

[Verdine White]

Yep.

[Ralph Johnson]

Yeah.

[Verdine White]

Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You want to say something?

[Ralph Johnson]

No. I was gonna say we've been at this longer with our. Just the three of us than we were with him.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Got you.

[Philip Bailey]

Yeah. And. And Reese didn't even do. Now, you know, you do buses on the road. Reese didn't even get into the bus era.

[Verdine White]

We didn't. We didn't even take.

[Ralph Johnson]

We were driving station. That's right.

[Verdine White]

And we had plane.

[Ralph Johnson]

Yeah.

[Verdine White]

We were one time, one of the first R B groups to start flying and stuff.

[Philip Bailey]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How did y' all avoid not making, I guess, the financial situation personal with Maurice, you know?

[Verdine White]

No, it got personal. Definitely got personal. But. But, you know, the. The transition or the evolution of. Of forgiving and understanding, you know, was something that, you know, was a process.

[Ralph Johnson]

I was gonna say it got personal, and that's why some people never returned. That's how personal it got. They didn't want anything to do with it moving forward.

[Philip Bailey]

And you learn how to forgive and keep it moving. And as Ralph had mentioned, we've been doing it longer without Reese than we were with Reese. Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

You know, when. When there are things shifting gears a bit, when there are things out there like you guys were the first African American act to sell out Madison Square Garden.

[Commercial Narrator]

Right.

[Angela Yee]

During that time when you were doing it, did it feel like. How did it feel? Because now people look back at that and they're like, oh, wow, like, that's such a big thing. But it probably didn't feel so glamorous when you guys were doing it.

[Verdine White]

No, it felt glamorous. Gardner has always been glamorous to. To any artist.

[Philip Bailey]

Right.

[Verdine White]

You know, it's iconic. I was just telling some people the other day when we were there, you know, to. To look around and to you know, relish the. The time there because it's very. It's a very sacred place.

[Philip Bailey]

I don't think any other band from

[Verdine White]

our era

[Philip Bailey]

is playing Madison Garden. We're doing it twice. We did it back in the day, and we're doing it now. And the thing about it now, it's a multicultural audience. You know, it's. It's all ages, all. All races of people, and. And they're enjoying the same thing. And for the two hours that we're out there together, they feel better when they leave than when they came, you know, because they don't know what to expect, you know? But the thing about it, they're very happy. And playing in New York, man, is really. I mean, when they love you, they love you. You know, they don't take no prisons, but when they love you, they love you. And they gave us a lot of love the other night with Lionel.

[DJ Envy]

We know these brothers got to go.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Absolutely. You got a memoir, though, right, Rob?

[Ralph Johnson]

Yes, it came out in May. May 28th. It's called rhythm and Fire, A Life in Harmony with Earth, Wind and Fire. And after being in the group for 55 years, I decided it was time to write a book, and so I did. And it's doing very well.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, when people are celebrating Earth, Wind and Fires, you know, legacy, right? 50 years from now, it'll be like 100 years.

[Commercial Narrator]

Right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What do you. What do you hope they're saying about your legacy? Legacy.

[Verdine White]

You know, here's a band that did music, and their. Their. Their intention was greater than themselves. You know, it was. It was. It wasn't so much about them as much as it was about rendering a service to the humanity. And I hope that it lives on.

[Ralph Johnson]

I was going to say, I hope they realize we made a tremendous contribution to the artistic and cultural fabric of the globe.

[Philip Bailey]

And 50 years from now, when we come back again on the Breakfast show,

[Charlamagne Tha God]

all of us will be. AI.

[Philip Bailey]

Exactly.

[Verdine White]

But wait. Big up to you guys, because we're in rarefied atmosphere being with you guys. It's an honor to be here. You guys are you. So much for the culture and, you know, like, you. You guys are so sharp, guys and ladies. Your whole. Your. Your whole operation. And so, you know. Thank you for inviting us.

[DJ Envy]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Angela Yee]

Oh, yes.

[DJ Envy]

All right.

[Ralph Johnson]

All right.

[Angela Yee]

Fit all of them.

[DJ Envy]

You wanna see? Well, it's Earth, Wind and Fire. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. Y' all finished or y' all done?

[Commercial Narrator]

Back to School is here. And Target has everything families need to help head into the school year feeling confident and ready to do their thing. From school supplies and stylish apparel to accessories kids actually want. Target makes it easy to check every box on your list at a great value. We're talking backpacks starting at just $5 and up to 60% supplies. Plus, kids can express their style with brands and collabs they love, like Love Shack, Fancy Cat and Jack Overtime. And customizable Owalla bottles with stickers, charms and much more. The prices parents want and the brands kids love all in one place at Target.

[Verdine White]

Mom, are we there yet?

[Angela Yee]

10 more minutes.

[Commercial Narrator]

Only 10 minutes.

[Verdine White]

Can you drive slower?

[Angela Yee]

What's up with them today? Lingokids, that app we downloaded last week.

[Commercial Narrator]

They love it. The games, this funny baby bot character.

[Angela Yee]

Kids, we're almost there.

[Commercial Narrator]

No.

[DJ Envy]

With more than 4,000 interactive games, songs and shows little ones can't get enough of, Lingokids is the number one entertainment platform for young kids.

[Ralph Johnson]

Why didn't we download this sooner?

[Angela Yee]

Lingokids, everything kids love.

[Commercial Narrator]

Download it for free.

This weekend, one of the homies mentioned he closed on a new crib. While everyone's asking about the housewarming, you're asking the real question. Like who is this State Farm Agent? See, home ownership is one thing, but the right coverage is the real game changer. It's how you protect your legacy estate. Farm Agent can help you with finding the right coverage for your new place and even help you file a claim over the phone, in person, online or on the app. They're ready to help you and they don't drop the ball, if you know what I mean. Like a good neighborhood, State Farm is there.

The official language of football is trash talk, late night group chats, memes and unbelievable highlight clips. That's why Boost Mobile brings you our new global connection plan. The first plan ever made for WhatsApp. Get unlimited data, talk and text, international roaming and calls to over 100 countries for just $40 a month. $40 price includes $5 a month auto pay discount. F After 40 gigabytes of premium high speed data speeds will be lowered. Coverage not available everywhere. Visit Store or BoostMobile.com for details.

[Angela Yee]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.