By Jack Irwin, Yahoo Entertainment | (Andrew grew up in Denver – Phillip Bailey went to East HS) The musician, who performed with the band for two years-long stints from 1973 to 1984 and again from 1987 to 1993, died Sunday after a six-year battle with an unknown illness, according to Earth, Wind & Fire vocalist Philip Bailey.
“I met him in High School, and we quickly became friends and band mates. Andrew Paul Woolfolk was his name,” Bailey, 70, wrote in an Instagram caption alongside a photo with his former bandmate. “We lost him today, after being ill of over 6 years.”
“He has transitioned on to the forever, from this Land of the dying to the Land of the Living,” continued the singer. “Great memories. Great Talent. Funny. Competitive. Quick witted. And always styling.”
Bailey concluded his post, writing, “Booski… I”ll see you on the other side, my friend.”
The official Earth, Wind & Fire account also shared Bailey’s post, while drummer John Paris, who’s performed with the band since 2001, posted his own tribute to Woolfolk on Instagram. “Rest well brother Andrew” he wrote alongside a photo of the saxophonist.
During Woolfolk’s time with Earth, Wind & Fire, the band earned many of their well-known hits including “Shining Star,” “Sing a Song, “Got to Get You into My Life,” “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “After the Love has Gone,” and “Let’s Groove,” among others. The group also won six Grammy awards with Woolfolk as a member.
Read the whole story here:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/earth-wind-fire-saxophonist-andrew-195038055.html
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Eric Johnson Passes on the News that Vince Mariani has Passed
Photo: Vince Mariani (from his record company) | Eric Johnson writes: I met Vince Mariani when I was 13 years old. He came over to my parents’ house and we jammed on some tunes together. It was a big deal to me because he was 19 years old and a professional musician. I guess he saw something in me because after that, we continued to play together. We had a little cabin northwest of Austin at Larry Nye’s house where we would jam frequently.
Vince was quite an amazing drummer. He had taken lessons from Gene Krupa. He could play so many different styles which at the time, I found to be exceptionally new and unusual.
My life changed in so many ways because of meeting Vince. He introduced me to the music of Wes Montgomery. He inspired me to really listen to what the Beatles lyrics were trying to say in songs like “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Within You and Without You”. He was a real seeker and sparked my interest in spiritual and metaphysical concepts which he was always dedicated to and he inspired me to become a vegetarian.
I have very fond memories of the band Mariani, playing festivals and great gigs at a place called the Jam Factory in San Antonio Texas. We continued playing, jamming and writing together through all of the years.
Vince has been my oldest and best friend through my whole life. He was one of the most talented people I ever met. Not only could he play drums and sing extremely well but he had the ability to be good at anything he put his mind to. He was talented in a way that few are in so many different areas.
He was also a superb lyricist and poet.
He was extremely engaging to talk to and to have vivid conversations with about so many ideals and subjects.
Vince had a very big heart. He wrote many of the liner notes from my records and came up with the names of my songs “Cliffs of Dover”, “Manhattan”, and “Trademark”. He designed the “Ah Via Musicom “ logo.
He also came up with the name of one of the two records that are coming out this summer. It was his idea to call it “The Book of Making”. He co-wrote “Desert Rose” from the “Ah Via Musicom” album. He also wrote the song “Lonely in the Night” off of the album “Venus Isle” which some people feel is their favorite song I’ve ever recorded.
I was a wayward kid at 13 and he helped me get on a better path. He inspired me to keep practicing and work at music because he was so supportive and encouraging.
There is a real vacuum on the planet that I feel now without him here, but I know wherever he is, he is soaring very high.
It will never be the same without him because there will never be another one quite like him.
Through most of his illness towards the end, he kept positive and kept his dignity and I can’t imagine what my life would have been like if I had never met him. He was a treasured gift in my life. I will miss him very much.
My love for him is eternal.
~ Eric
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=Eric-Johnson
Lots more on Vince at https://sonobeatrecords.com/mariani.html
Former Denverite and Earth, Wind & Fire Saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk Dies // Eric Johnson Passes on the News that Vince Mariani has Died
