21st Night September day, indeed.
Questlove is on board to direct the in-progress documentary Earth, Wind & Fire. The feature is set to examine the iconic group’s enduring legacy, cultural impact, and enduring body of work.
According to a press release, the Grammy and Oscar-winning filmmaker will have exclusive access to the band’s visual, audio and written archives for the project, as well as the support of Maurice White’s estate and the band.
“Being baptized in the Afrocentric river of joy of this powerful unit, I have learned about them, I have learned about us, and most importantly, I have learned and rediscovered myself in the process,” Questlove said in a statement. “I am so excited to be a part of preserving their positive yet VERY vulnerable and real story of Soul, Self, and Struggle.”
Earth, Wind & Fire band members Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson shared in their joint statement, “We can’t wait to embark on this in-depth journey with our band and are so excited to have Questlove direct the documentary.”
THE Summer of the soul The filmmaker will also produce the documentary, along with Dave Sirulnick and Samantha Grogin of RadicalMedia; KB White of Broken Halo Entertainment, son of the band’s late leader Maurice White; and Arron Saxe of Kinfolk Management + Media, in association with Sony Music Vision. FIFTH SEASON is financing the film and will also handle sales with WME.
“The impact of Earth, Wind & Fire has been at the center of popular culture around the world for decades. We are beyond thrilled to collaborate for the fourth time with the brilliant mind of Questlove who couldn't be more perfect to tell this definitive story, as well as the powerhouse teams at FIFTH SEASON, Two One Five, Broken Halo and Kinfolk Management + Media,” said Sirulnick, president of entertainment at RadicalMedia. “We have many thanks to express, however, this project would not be possible without the trust and partnership of KB White and Arron Saxe, for whom we have the utmost respect.”
The band's decades-long career has made them one of the most critically and commercially successful pop bands of all time. They have sold more than 90 million records, had 11 consecutive albums go gold or platinum, and won six Grammys. Their discography includes mega-hits such as “September,” “Reasons,” and “Shining Star.”
Zarah Zohlman and Shawn Gee of Two One Five Entertainment, the production company founded by Questlove and Roots member Black Thought, will executive produce, as will RadicalMedia’s Jon Kamen, Cheo Hodari Coker and Amos Newman.