332 Section Twelve lisTeniEarth, Wind & Fire  (CD2, Tk6) 
Shining Star (1975) 
Maurice White and Philip Bailey, vocals and percussion; Al McKay and Johnny Graham, guitars; Verdine White, vocals and bass; Andrew Woolfolk, flute and saxophones; Larry Dunn, keyboards; Ralph Johnson and Fred White, drums and percussion.
 
Under the leadership of Maurice White, this band had some fine players work through its ranks. Strong jazz players like Ronnie Laws and Larry Dunn, who were in the first version of the band, helped set the tone of the ensemble. It developed into a technically gifted ensemble playing tight American funk. This song in particular moved the band to the top of the charts after only being under contract to CBS Records for three years. The interplay of the vocalists and the instrumentalists is part of the groups magic. The music bridged the styles of funk, jazz, and pop. The year 1975 was the height of the disco fad, and this song stylistically belongs more in this genre than the others. Notice the classic disco beat is not here (eighth notes in the bass and the hi-hat on the first and third beats of the measure). The dance beat is created by a very tight funk pattern in the verse. The chorus has a more typical dance pattern and feeling. Because of its versatility, this song has been covered by several other groups in a variety of different stylistic interpretations. 
