The Philippine Star
Entertainment (as of 3/19/2008 12:59 AM)
Last Word On Earth, Wind & Fire Minor ‘Issue’
The rejoinder (published in this corner over the weekend) to the Earth, Wind & Fire story drew yet another rejoinder, this time from “Long Tall” Howard who titled his e-mail “The real story on Al McKay’s All-Star Earth, Wind & Fire Experience.” (McKay’s group, which performed in a series of concerts here recently, calls itself “Earth, Wind & Fire Experience” to differentiate it from the other Earth, Wind & Fire group also doing a world tour.)
Dear Ricky,
I chanced upon an e-mail from a certain Rich Salvato, who did not even give an address, and a certain Mark Young of The Fame Factory last March 15 in Funfare and I just could not take it sitting down. Here’s the real story:
I am “Long Tall” Howard, one of the radio jocks of RJ100.3 and at the same time the artist handler and tour coordinator of Steve O’Neal Productions. Since I was in the midst of everything during the four-day concert tour of Al McKay’s All-Stars, I felt it would be right to clarify some matters of which I was part of. The concert was never billed as “The Earth, Wind & Fire” but as “The Earth, Wind & Fire Experience with the Al McKay All-Stars.”
As a matter of fact, I even got into an argument with Al McKay himself during a guesting on Umagang Kay Ganda on ABS-CBN. I was in charge of coordinating with the TV show’s hosts at that time and after a miscue Donita Rose, one of the hosts who was to interview the group (Al and the three singers), was replaced by Edu Manzano. I handed a piece of paper to Donita before the interview to mention that the group was the Earth, Wind & Fire Experience with the Al McKay All-Stars.
There was a mix-up and Edu introduced them as the Earth, Wind & Fire without no malice intended. The guys did an a cappella of some EWF songs and then went to the holding room where Al McKay blew his top and told me that it was wrong to introduce them as the Earth, Wind & Fire because it was clear that they were advertised in the posters and print ads as “The Earth, Wind & Fire Experience,” and because of Umagang Kay Ganda incident he was going to cancel the shows.
I talked to Edu about the matter. He and Kim Atienza, another host, went back on the air to clarify the matter while showing the poster. Even before the Al McKay All-Stars arrived, some people had been trying to dispute their being the Earth, Wind & Fire and that none of the group were original members of the EWF. There were even text messages going around saying so.
In fairness to Al McKay and his group, they have been clear on the matter that they were not the Earth, Wind & Fire during the negotiations with Steve O’Neal Productions. It seemed that some people were out to create the impression that the Al McKay group was claiming to be Earth, Wind & Fire. Well, whoever spread the rumor might find the whole thing blowing up in their faces. I was even used by a certain group to book the EWF at the Araneta Coliseum last December but nothing happened.
I was in all their four shows in the Philippine leg of their tour and never did these guys claim that they were the Earth, Wind & Fire; they always introduced themselves as the Al McKay All-Stars. Well, I hope Maurice, Philip, Verdine and Ralph get the message right this time because whoever is spreading the wrong information here in the Philippines are the ones to blame; they should know who they are. Should anyone need more information on the matter, I can be contacted during my radio show on RJ100.3.
Thanks,
“Long Tall” Howard
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)
Text back your reaction to this article using your Globe, Touch Mobile, Smart, Talk n’ Text, Sun and Addict, cell phone by sending REACT to 2366 or send an email to newsfeedback@abs-cbn.com
Please refrain from offensive language, slanderous statements and commercial messages.
Discuss this article on our message boards.
FUNFARE
Color the night Maroon
By RICARDO F. LO
Media Partners The Philippine Star Business Mirror Business World
Investor RelationsKnowledge ChannelABS-CBN FoundationStar
CinemaCCAIAdvertise with Us
Copyright © 2004 ABS-CBN Interactive All rights reserved.
