Earth, Wind & Fire to headline 2027 People’s Music Hall of Fame induction in Salt Lake City

Earth, Wind & Fire will be honored at the 2027 People’s Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony Jan. 23 at Salt Lake City’s Eccles Theater. The event will feature band members, guest performers and a live interview, with proceeds funding music scholarships for students.

Why it matters: - Earth, Wind & Fire will be recognized as the 2027 People’s Music Hall of Fame inductees in an event tied to music education and youth scholarships. - The ceremony brings a major legacy act to Salt Lake City and pairs the tribute with performances by young musicians from Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse. - Proceeds from the event will fund music performance scholarships for students through the Sound Support Foundation.

What happened: - The Sound Support Foundation and the Professor of Rock will honor Earth, Wind & Fire on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. at the Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake City. - Earth, Wind & Fire members Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson will share stories from their careers and perform with Utah’s Soundhouse Artists. - The ceremony will include a live interview with the band by Adam Reader, also known as the Professor of Rock.

The details: - Special guests scheduled to perform with Earth, Wind & Fire and the Soundhouse artists include Myron McKinley, Rashawn Ross and Tom “Bones” Malone. - Myron McKinley is the band’s longtime keyboardist and music director. - Rashawn Ross is a member of the Dave Matthews Band and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. - Tom “Bones” Malone is an original member of the Blues Brothers and a former bandleader of the Saturday Night Live Band. - Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse is described as a collective of more than 200 award-winning young musicians. - Mountain America Credit Union is the headline sponsor of the People’s Music Hall of Fame. - Mountain America Credit Union has more than 100 branches in five states. - Tickets are on sale now at arttix.org. - The event benefits the Sound Support Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Between the lines: - The honorees are being framed not just as a classic band, but as a cross-generational touchstone with broad recognition across genres. - The event links a celebrity tribute with a youth-development mission, using a high-profile concert to support scholarships and music training. - The announcement also taps into Earth, Wind & Fire’s long-running cultural footprint, including the song “September,” which has become a recurring online reference point every year.

What’s next: - Earth, Wind & Fire will be inducted at the January ceremony in Salt Lake City. - The performance lineup is expected to combine band members, guest artists and Soundhouse musicians on stage. - Scholarship funding from ticket and event proceeds will go to students through the Sound Support Foundation.

The bottom line: - Salt Lake City is set for a tribute concert that doubles as a fundraiser, honoring Earth, Wind & Fire’s legacy while supporting the next generation of musicians.