Maurice White met trombonist and bassist Louis Satterfield while performing at Chicago's Chess Studios.

At that time Satterfield was working at Chess as a musician, where he played on hit songs such as Fontella Bass's "Rescue Me."

After leaving Chess to play in the Ramsey Lewis Trio, White went on to start up a band known as Earth, Wind & Fire.

The group was less beholden to middle register three and four-part harmonies (the trademark of Chicago's Lee Loughnane, Walter Parazaider, and Jimmy Pankow), instead favoring a more staccato, rhythmic, borderline percussive approach similar to the sound being popularized by trumpeter/arranger Greg Adams in Tower Of Power (though notably excluding the contrapuntal baritone saxophone spits favored by Adams).

He was particularly adept on the alto saxophone, distinctly demonstrating the influence of soul-influenced bebop saxophonist Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley.

Myrick's alto playing is featured on "If Leaving Me Is Easy", as are Harris' and Davis' signature flugelhorn lines.

In 2000, Collins sued two members of the Phenix Horns, Louis Satterfield and Rahmlee Davis, to recover overpayment of royalties over 6.5 years.

[5][6] Band leader Don Myrick was shot to death by a Santa Monica Police Department officer in the doorway of his home in 1993.

[8] Rahmlee Michael Davis ultimately resumed a career as a solo jazz artist and occasional sideman/session player.

Michael Harris has toured with the Al McKay All Stars, performing classic Earth, Wind & Fire hits.