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The ArtThe BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt Williams. The second ceremony was held on October 13, 2007. Like the first ceremony, this was also held at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, first aired on October 17 and was also hosted by Katt Williams. The third ceremony premiered on October 23, 2008. This ceremony was not hosted by Katt Williams, but instead was hosted by popular R&B artist T-Pain. The fourth ceremony was held on October 10, 2009 and was hosted by Mike Epps and aired on October 27. The fifth ceremony was held on October 2, 2010 (aired October 12) and was also by Mike Epps. of Music: Gifting Suite Experience is an exciting, eccentric upscale interactive experience created to engross celebrities, socialites, stylist, designers and industry power players surrounding the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. The suite itself will be a unique blend of pampering, gifting, upscale hospitality, social networking and live entertainment. Drexina Nelson Photography Studio is the official venue host of event that takes place on Friday September 30, 2011 from 2:00pm to 6:0pm. The Art of Music: Gifting Suite Experience is excited to have one the music industry’s most in-demand songwriters, Crystal Nicole, who is signed to Blackground /Interscope Records as a Recording Artist.

This invite only gifting suite will bring together well-known talent, celebrities and personalities from the world of Music, Film, Fashion, Art, Radio and Sports.

The event will highlight the first ever seen Extended Trailer Hip Hop Documentary "In The Mixx: Djs Doing Work" Presented by Rodney "Mehka' King.The documentary will feature interview and clips from notable talent such as Dj Drama, CORE Dj's own Tony Neal, DJ Greg Street, Steve Raze, Lloyd Banks, GLC, Dj Infamous, Dj Screw, Dj Scream, Slim Thug amongst others. In addition to live entertainment filled with a mix of Hip Hop’s Top 40 songs nationally.
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Maurice White Musicians Verdine White (L) and Maurice White of Earth Wind and Fire arrive at the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California.

Musicians Verdine White (L) and Maurice White of Earth Wind and Fire arrive at the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California.

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American R&B and funk band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both theRock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.^[1]^[2] Rolling Stone has described them as "innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing" and has also declared that the band "changed the sound of black pop".^[3] In 1998, they were ranked at number 60 on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Rock N' Roll.^[4]
In 1962, Maurice White, a former session drummer for Chess Records and member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, joined two friends in Chicago, Wade Flemons and Wayne T, Don Whitehead, as a songwriting team composing songs and commercials in the Chicago area. The three friends got a recording contract with Capitol, and called themselves the "Salty Peppers," and had a marginal hit in the Midwestern area called "La La Time".^[7]

The band's music contains elements of African, Latin American, funk, soul, pop and rock music, jazz and other genres. The band is known for the dynamic sound of their horn section, and the interplay between the contrasting vocals of Philip Bailey'sfalsetto and Maurice White's tenor.^[5] The kalimba (African thumb piano) is played on all of the band's albums.^[6]

The Salty Peppers' second single, "Uh Huh Yeah," did not fare as well, and Maurice left Ramsey Lewis Trio and moved from Chicago to Los Angeles. White added to the band singer Sherry Scott and percussionist Yackov Ben Israel both from Chicago, and then asked his younger brother Verdine how he would feel about heading out to the west coast. June 6, 1970, Verdine left Chicago later joining the band as their new bassist. Maurice began shopping demo tapes of the band, featuringDonny Hathaway, around to different record labels and was then signed to Warner Bros. Records.^[7]^[8]

Maurice's astrological sign, Sagittarius, has a primary elemental quality of Fire and seasonal qualities of Earth and Air ^q.v.(Sagittarius in the northern hemisphere occurs in the fall, whose element is earth, and in the southern hemisphere, it is spiring, whose element is air. Hence the omission of Water, the fourth classical element). Based on this, he changed the band's name, to "Earth, Wind & Fire". Maurice (mbira) held auditions in L.A. adding Michael Beale on guitar, Chester Washington on reeds, and Leslie Drayton on trumpet and as the group's musical arranger. Trombonist Alex Thomas, and Wade Flemons playing the electric piano and vocals, completed the ten-man EWF lineup.^[5]^[9]

The band's self-titled debut album, Earth, Wind, Fire, was released February 1971 to critical acclaim, as was November 1971'sThe Need of Love. Both albums were produced by Joe Wissert and a single, from The Need of Love called "I Think About Lovin' You" provided EWF with their first Top 40 R&B hit. In 1971, the group also performed the soundtrack to the Melvin Van Peeblesfilm Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song,^[5] which was recorded at the Paramount Recording Studios on Santa Monica Boulevard and released on Stax records. The band also developed a growing popularity on college campuses. However, some members of EWF were restless and the band broke up after having been together for less than six months. With only Verdine left, Maurice decided to re-form the group and started holding auditions.

With a full orchestra of Denver-area musicians backing them, Earth, Wind & Fire delivered what the sold-out crowd had come for — hit after danceable hit. The few exceptions — such as “Evil” from the 1973 album “Head to the Sky,” and “Mighty Mighty” and “Kalimba Story” from 1974’s “Open Our Eyes” — almost sounded as if they were in the set more for the band than the audience. During those years, the group was still searching for the sound that would give them the sing-along appeal the Beatles had mastered the decade before.marking their 40th Anniversary with a spectacular cross-country tour with a stop right here at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live tonight! Check out photos of the group through the years!