September 21. That's today! If you count yourself among the millions for whom the pandemic has ruined all sense of time, you're welcome for the nudge. Many others need no such reminder because is September 21 is Earth Wind and Fire Day – a reason to get down to the iconic R&B band's unsinkable 1978 hit "September."
Nearly 44 years after its release, it's easy to understand why the track refuses to go the way of other late '70s cultural fevers broken by shifting trends. Bellbottoms and leisure suits might be dead and buried, but "September" remains a wedding reception and class reunion staple. For Black and brown folks, the song evokes memories of house parties and cookouts. It has been endlessly remixed, sampled, and covered.
