Shining Star (Earth, Wind & Fire song)

Overview

"Shining Star" was produced by Maurice White and composed by White, Larry Dunn and Philip Bailey.

The concept for the song came to Maurice White while strolling at night during the band's recording of That's the Way of the World at Caribou Ranch. He became inspired by looking up at the starry sky and took his ideas about the song to the other band members.

Critical reception

Vibe called "Shining Star" a "treasure". Alex Henderson of AllMusic described the song as "sweaty funk". Gordon Fletcher of Rolling Stone wrote that the song "glow(s) with an incendiary charge that once moved record producer Sandy Pearlman to term EW&F 'the closest thing to a black heavy-metal band'." Daryl Easlea of the BBC found that "Shining Star can be seen as much an influence on Prince as anything by James Brown". Stephen Curwood of The Boston Globe noted that the tune "shows off the fabulous range and coordination of this nine-man vocal ensemble and instrumental choir.

"Shining Star" also won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. In 2008, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Covers and samples

The song has been sampled by hip hop artists MC Lyte, Snoop Dogg and Salt-N-Pepaamong many other artists. It has also been interpolated in songs by hip hop groups the Roots and De La Soul.

Personnel

• Maurice White – lead and backing vocals
• Phillip Bailey – lead and backing vocals, congas
• Verdine White – bass, backing vocals
• Ralph Johnson – percussion, drums
• Al McKay – lead guitar
• Johnny Graham – rhythm guitar
• Fred White – drums
• Larry Dunn – clavinet
• Andrew P. Woolfolk – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
• George Bohanon – trombone
• Oscar Brashear – trumpet
• Ernie Watts – additional saxophone

Chart positions

Certifications

Accolades

(*) designates lists that are unordered.

References

References

1. Anon.. (1975). "Black Music: Progressing in Sound".
2. Mitchell, Matt. (December 7, 2025). "Every #1 hit song from 1975 ranked worst to best".
3. Breihan, Tom. (July 15, 2019). "The Number Ones: Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star"".
4. (January 1975). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Star". Columbia Records.
5. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Star (Hot 100)".
6. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Star (Hot Soul Songs)".
7. "Gold & Platinum".
8. Flans, Robyn. (December 1, 2004). "Classic Tracks: Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star"". Mixonline.
9. (September 2004). "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World".
10. Henderson, Alex. "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World". [[AllMusic]].
11. Fletcher, Gordon. (July 3, 1975). "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World". [[Rolling Stone]].
12. Easlea, Daryl. (2010). "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World Review". [[BBC]].
13. Curwood, Stephen. (July 18, 1975). "Records: Nelson, Earth etc., Bee Gees". [[Boston Globe]].
14. (23 November 2020). "Earth, Wind & Fire". [[The Recording Academy]].
15. "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame {{!}} Hall of Fame Artists {{!}} GRAMMY.com".
16. "Earth, Wind & Fire – Shining Star". Genius.com.
17. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Star". [[Dutch Charts]].
18. "Grammy Hall of Fame Award".
19. (1989). "The Heart of Rock & Roll: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made". New American Library.
20. (2005). "Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs of the Rock and Roll Era: 1944–2000". Routledge.