Now, Then & Forever

Now, Then & Forever is the twentieth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on September 10, 2013, by Legacy Recordings/Sony Music. The album reached No. 11 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Overview
This is the first Earth, Wind & Fire album without musical input from founder Maurice White, although he supplied a note in the album's liner notes: "As we see today’s technology uniting the world wide web, sometimes it seems that the hearts of men are growing more distant from each other. It is my hope that this music will continue to tie past to future, reminding us of the love that united us to our ancestors, and to our descendants, and to each other. Peace,"

Larry Dunn, a former Earth, Wind & Fire bandmember, features as a keyboardist on the album. A deluxe edition came coupled with a compilation album.

Singles
The track "Guiding Lights" rose to No. 16 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. Another single, "My Promise", reached No. 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.

Critical reception
Matt Bauer of Exclaim gave the album an eight out of ten rating, noting that "Now, Then & Forever is a more than worthy addition to the Earth Wind & Fire catalogue." With a four out of five rating, Harry Guerin of RTÉ called Now, Then & Forever "One of the surprises of the year." Elias Leight of Popmatters wrote "Now, Then & Forever has all the old colors and grooves, an impeccable rhythm section, prominent guitars, and indomitable horns that trace and re-trace motifs, dancing rings around everything." With a three out of five stars rating, Gavin Martin of the Daily Mirror exclaimed "Elements of greatness remain but the songs aren't classics." Daryl Easlea of Record Collector gave a four out of five stars rating and found that "Now, Then And Forever, is a splendid diversion that recalls – in spirit alone, of course – Rick Rubin’s recent work with Black Sabbath. It also sounds like a lost album that should have come out after 1979’s I Am: a very shrewd approximation of the EWF we know and love, it’s crammed with sophisticated R&B, gossamer-light jazz and powerful, soulful vocals with a positive message. Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave a three out of five stars rating saying "Now, Then & Forever demonstrates the lasting value of the band's classic sound." With a three out of five rating the Daily Record called Now, Then & Forever "a worthy effort, and EWF are clearly using old glories as inspiration for the future." 

Personnel
Adapted from the album's text.


 * Philip Bailey	— producer, executive producer, lead and background vocals, percussion
 * Trinity Bailey	— A&R
 * Jon Barnes — trumpet
 * Duane Benjamin	— trombone
 * Gary Bias	 — alto and tenor saxophones
 * Mathieu Bitton	— design
 * Terence Blanchard	— trumpet
 * Errol Cooney	— guitar
 * Sal Cracchiolo	— trumpet
 * Tishaun Dawson	— cover art, creative director
 * Reggie Dozier	— horn engineer
 * Larry Dunn	— engineer, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3, handclapping, keyboards, Minimoog, Moog synthesizer, grand piano, producer, soloist, synthesizer
 * Jennifer Feinberg — project director
 * Chuck Findley	— flugelhorn, trumpet
 * James Ford	— trumpet
 * Matthew Fronke	— trumpet
 * Siedah Garrett	— background vocals
 * Jerry Hey	— horn arrangements
 * J.R. Hutson	— producer
 * Dr. Billy Ingram — insert photography
 * Fred Jackson, Jr. — flute, tenor saxophone
 * Munyungo Jackson	— percussion
 * Austin Jacobs	— Producer, composer, keyboards, programming, synthesizer
 * Ralph Johnson — drums, percussion
 * Eric Jorgensen	— trombone
 * Wendell Kelly	— trombone
 * Paul Klingberg	— engineer
 * Nicholas Lane	— trombone
 * David Leach	— percussion
 * Daniel McClain	— background vocals
 * Jevon McGlory	— background vocals


 * Myron McKinley	— Fender Rhodes, keyboards, producer, synthesizer
 * Justin Merrill	— engineer
 * Gregory Moore	— guitar
 * Kenny Moran	— engineer, percussion engineer, synthesizer
 * Jarius Mozee	— guitars
 * Vernon Mungo	— vocal engineer
 * Morris O'Connor	— guitars
 * Jeremiah Olvera	— mixing assistant
 * Don Pace	— cover art
 * Ric'key Pageot	— keyboards, synthesizer
 * Justin Panariello	— producer
 * John Pappenbrook	— trumpet
 * Jim Parham	— project director
 * John Paris	— drums, background vocals
 * Dave Pensado	— mixing
 * Neil Pogue	— A&R
 * Neal H. Pogue	— additional production, engineer, handclapping, mixing, percussion, producer
 * Satnam Ramgotra	— tabla
 * David Rideau	— engineer
 * Darrin Simpson	— Producer, guitar, Hammond B3, handclapping, horn arrangements, keyboards, piano, programming, synthesizer
 * Damien Smith	— A&R
 * Jubu Smith	— guitars
 * Michael "Patches" Stewart	 — trumpet
 * Randee St. Nicholas	— photography
 * Juan F. "Jef" Villaluna	— guitar
 * Mark Visher	— baritone and tenor saxophones
 * Wait B	— handclapping, producer
 * Verdine White	— bass, executive producer, handclapping, mixing assistant
 * B David Whitworth — background vocals, percussion
 * Benjamin Wright	— conductor, horn arrangements
 * Reggie Young	— bass and tenor trombones

Year-end charts
Singles - Billboard (US)