Memorial Coliseum

June 27, 1976

The popular soul band had performed in Memorial Coliseum once before in 1974 with supporting act Rare Earth. Two years later, by the time the big soul show made a stop in Tuscaloosa for the UPC summer show, all the bands on the bill were on a roll, Earth, Wind & Fire in particular. Maurice White and his ensemble released the double disc set, “Gratitude” in 1975. The album featured a series of fresh hits like “Sing a Song,” “Can’t Hide Love,” and the title track. White started a new production company and signed jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis and a new all-female ensemble, The Emotions. They were a group on the go, with White producing their latest album, “Flowers.” The trio of glamorous young women appeared onstage in long, flowing white gowns playing the album’s title track and a lesser hit, “I Don’t Want to Lose Your Love.” But a new track, “Best of My Love,” which featured EWF players in the record, was the real crowd-pleaser. Lewis opened with a series of songs from his latest album, “Salongo,” which White had produced, and dashes of earlier hits like “(I’m in with) The In Crowd.” With a definitive rock edge, the music was a departure for the traditional jazz artist. The 41-year-old Lewis featured a small combo onstage and sported a mouth full of braces, which reflected into the lights on stage in Memorial Coliseum. For the evening, he reached into his deep well of hits, including a jazz version of “Hang on Sloopy” and “Wade in the Water.” But the night belonged to Earth, Wind & Fire. The sell-out concert featured an enthusiastic audience, a melting pot of faces who knew the band’s music well. Maurice White’s interplay with vocalist Phillip Bailey’s falsetto and the four-octave range was on parade, especially on staples like “Shining Star,” which was sensational. The group’s fusion of R&B, pop, jazz, soul, and funk kept the audience on their feet for most of the show.