Which funk and soul group did Maurice White form in Chicago in 1969?

Maurice White formed Earth, Wind & Fire in Chicago in 1969.

White had been a session drummer at Chess Records and a member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio. In Chicago, he joined Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead as a songwriting team. The trio initially performed and recorded as the Salty Peppers, releasing two singles, including the regional hit “La La Time.”

After the Salty Peppers failed to build lasting momentum, White moved the project to Los Angeles and reshaped it. He brought in additional musicians, including his younger brother Verdine White, and changed the name to Earth, Wind & Fire. The group’s name was inspired by elements associated with White’s astrological sign, Sagittarius; water was omitted from the final name.

The group’s Chicago origin is easy to confuse with its later Los Angeles development. Chicago was where White founded the early band in 1969, but Los Angeles became the base where he assembled the larger ensemble and established its signature sound. Earth, Wind & Fire later combined funk, soul, jazz, disco, pop and African musical influences.