Throughout the years, many bands have come and gone, but only a select few stay relevant and popular for many years. Earth Wind and Fire is one of those great exceptions. Maurice White started the group in Chicago in 1969 and since then it has reached international fame, and on Oct. 1, the band will perform in Fayetteville.

This Earth, Wind and Fire is a unique mix of R&B, soul, funk, disco, jazz and rock that has allowed them to transcend generations with their universally pleasing music and universal message of love. The use of the Klimba, or African Thumb Piano, which appears in all of their albums also adds an African flare to the music. By mixing so many genres together in their style of music Earth, Wind and Fire has appealed to a broader spectrum of the listening public than any band has before. Their fusion of pop and R&B has appealed to listeners of all places in life, and has bridged many of the gaps that often occur in music.

Earth, Wind and Fire has received numerous awards over the years, including multiple Grammys, Grammy nominations, and American Music Awards. They also broke racial barriers by being the first African-American performers to receive Madison Square Garden’s Gold Ticket Award, which is given to performers who sell more than 100,000 tickets. These are but a few examples, there are many other awards for which the band has received or been nominated. They are truly remarkable in the music they create as well as the skill level that it takes to create it.

Adding to their power as a band is the great individual skills of each musician. White, the founder began his love of music by singing in the church choir at the age of 6. This love eventually blossomed into a career, and White worked professionally first with Booker T. and then with many stars such as Etta Jones, Frontella Bass and Billy Stewart. He moved back to Chicago in 1969 and formed the “Salty Peppers” with his friends Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead. The band had marginal success until it moved to L.A. and changed the name to Earth Wind and Fire. White is no longer part of the band’s touring group, but he is still highly involved as the composer and producer.

This amazing opportunity to see these music legends is provided to the Fayetteville Community through Community Concerts. Community concerts is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to bringing “top-notch entertainment to Fayetteville and the Fort Bragg/Cumberland County Community,” which they have done for more than 77 years.

Earth, Wind and Fire will perform at the Crown Coliseum, 1960 Coliseum Dr., on Oct. 1at 7:30 p.m. The band will perform songs from its most recent album Now, Then & Forever. Tickets are available for purchase via ticketmaster.com or by calling the Crown Box Of褀ce at 438-4100. For more information, visit www.community-concerts.com/2013/06/14/earth-wind-fire/ or www.crowncoliseum.com/community-concerts-presents-earth-wind-and-fire.

Photo: Earth, Wind and Fire is set to perform at the Crown on Oct., 1.