Earth, Wind & Fire blow through summer

Earth, Wind & Fire recently kicked off a run of dates that will take the legendary funk band all over the US through late July.

The group's next gig is May 10 in Tampa, FL, and that will be followed by a show at Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Then it's off to Hawaii for a couple of concerts before EWF returns to the continental US. The band will play two-night stands in Atlantic City and Grand Ronde, OR. Details are listed below.

Earth, Wind & Fire continues to support its 2005 set, "Illumination," which marked the band's 35th year and its 23rd career album. The record was inspired by singer Philip Baily's idea to have the veteran musicians collaborate with the new generation of soul artists, according to EWF's website.

The disc, which scored the highest debut of the band's history, features songs produced by Raphael Saadiq, Black Eyed Peas leader Will.I.Am, Organized Noise, Brian McKnight and the team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Guest performers include Saadiq, Will.I.Am, McKnight, Big Boi of OutKast, Kenny G, Floetry and Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child.

Earth Wind & Fire--anchored by founding members Baily, Maurice White (who no longer tours with the band), Verdine White and Ralph Johnson--has sold more than 30 million albums in the US and earned eight Grammys. The band was induced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.