Ralph Johnson has deep reverence for two things: The Kennedy Center Honors that Earth, Wind & Fire received in 2019 and Clive Davis, the music impresario so vital to the band’s fledgling career.
Those topics are mentioned early in Johnson’s memoir, “Rhythm & Fire: A Life in Harmony with Earth, Wind & Fire” (Diversion Books, out now), and the percussionist/singer is delighted to elaborate in conversation.
“The Kennedy Center Honor is like being knighted in the U.K. It’s got that kind of status,” Johnson says on a recent video call. “To think you’re being honored because you added something to the artistic fabric of the United States and even the world is very special. My ribbons hang encased in my studio at my home and everybody that comes to the studio sees those ribbons.”
As for Davis, Johnson is equally forthright.
“If it wasn’t for Clive Davis and Columbia Records in 1972, Earth, Wind & Fire, as you know today, wouldn’t exist on this level. He stole us from Warner Bros. Records and he brought vision because at that time, our label didn’t really know how to market Black music.”
Davis’ vision, combined with the musical and business acumen of band founder Maurice White, combusted to produce some of the most everlasting soul-pop-R&B gems in music history, with “Devotion,” “Mighty Mighty,” “Shining Star,” “Reasons” and “That’s The Way of World,” among the band’s monster catalog.
Johnson, 74, joined EWF in 1972, along with Philip Bailey, he of the four-octave vocal range. The pair, along with bassist Verdine White – brother of Maurice, who died in 2016 – still tour consistently, packing theaters and amphitheaters with EWF’s always-appreciated grooves. A tour with Lionel Richie begins June 25.
But Johnson has a bigger story to tell, one that “Rhythm & Fire” explores, starting with a foreword by Questlove, who also directed the band’s documentary, “Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World,” premiering June 7 on HBO.
Johnson will hold a discussion about his book on May 28 at The Grove in Los Angeles (he also narrates the audiobook). But he had more revelations from “Rhythm & Fire” to expound on with USA TODAY, including his mastery of martial arts, his jazz radio show and his surprising jobs during an EWF hiatus.
Question: So, the eternal question, why do this now?
Ralph Johnson: I’m going to answer a question with a question: Why not now?
Fair point! OK, then why not earlier?
I’m 55 years in with this group and I think I’ve done enough and experienced enough to be able to write a decent book. I wrote it for my grandkids (aged 7 to 1). There are life lessons in there about commitment and faith and resilience and trust. Those intangible things that do matter, as well as a literary account of my journey growing up in LA and joining Earth, Wind & Fire and what we went through.
Along with music, EWF also pioneered these fantastical stage shows with orbs, smoke and magic. Do you hear from other artists that they were influenced by it?
It’s not so much that we have heard it as much as seeing it. You can go back to The Jacksons, and then later on, maybe Kool & The Gang picked up on our theatrics. Certainly, George Clinton and the Funkadelics picked up on it. There were a few acts that were watching what we were doing, and it’s all once again, back to Maurice’s vision.
Was it fun?
Absolutely. I was the guy early on spinning on the drum set. That’s not something you ever saw, but I do have some footage at home.
Was writing the book therapeutic?
Man, I talk about some stuff we went through, like when Maurice just woke up one day and said, “Hey, we’re going to stop the band. I’m going to do my thing, Phil[ip] is going to do his thing, you guys can do whatever you want.” That was a moment.
It was a revelation to me what you wound up doing during that mid-‘80s hiatus, like working in a stereo store.
Federated Stereo, which was a big chain at the time. But before that, I was working on a construction site and putting in fire protection systems … There’s a giant building on Santa Monica Boulevard and Sepulveda, a sports club. I know every foot of that building because I put in the fire protection system. But those were giant lessons about humility.
You also disclose that you had cancer surgery in 2016.
It’s interesting that I had vocal cord cancer and now I’m on the radio every Saturday night doing a show (“Jazz Epicenter 6.7” from KUNV 91.5-FM in Las Vegas).
You already have a pretty busy schedule, so why do you love doing it?
I like the idea that I can curate some of my favorite mainstream jazz tunes, and at the same time, entertain the audience and educate the audience about what I call America’s classical music, this jazz. I got turned onto jazz when I was 14 because Los Angeles had the first-ever 24-hour jazz station, KBCA 105.1. I would come home from school and start listening to these jocks and their various personalities. I’d go, man. That’s kind of cool … And the idea of being on terrestrial radio (now), I found intriguing. The idea of finally being on the radio. Not internet, radio.
You also talk about being a black belt in karate, which might surprise some people.
I actually have two black belts. One is in the Korean style of karate, Tang Soo Do, and I’m a third degree in a style of Kung Fu known as San Soo. I’m in the dojo twice a week and also on the tennis court twice a week.
Do you have other health routines?
I’m very careful about what I eat and try to stay away from sugar. I drink the green tea and take my vitamins and black seed oil for inflammation. Before I have my coffee or tea, I’m going to have coenzyme Q10, which is excellent for the heart. And my Vitamin Cs and Ds and mushroom combinations like reishi. I carry it in two bags. It’s like, here comes Ralph, one suitcase for clothes, one suitcase for vitamins and supplements.
