“Do you remember the 21st night of September?”

Fans of Earth, Wind & Fire certainly do. What started as the unforgettable opening line of the band’s 1978 classic, September, has since become a fan-created holiday — Earth, Wind & Fire Day. In 2019, the Los Angeles City Council even made it official, honoring a band that made L.A. its home and left an unmistakable mark on music history.

Maurice White, the band’s founder, once said he picked September 21st simply because the date “sang” well. His wife later added another layer — that it tied to their son’s expected birthdate. Either way, the date stuck, and now the world grooves a little harder each year when September 21st rolls around.

I wouldn’t call myself a superfan, but I’ve always enjoyed their music. Every time someone mentions September 21st — before, during, or after the date — I can’t help but quip the lyric: “Do you remember the 21st night of September?” It’s reflex at this point. I even flirted with the idea of naming a geocache September, just to lock in that wink to the song.

Of course, September isn’t their only hit. Let’s Groove still fills a dance floor faster than just about anything, with that funky baseline that refuses to let you sit down. And Shining Star? That track was practically a pep talk set to horns, reminding us all that “you’re a shining star, no matter who you are.”

That’s the thing about Earth, Wind & Fire: they made music that felt good. Music that was impossible to hear without smiling, moving, or remembering some moment from your own life.

So today, I’ll turn up the volume and celebrate. Because Earth, Wind & Fire didn’t just ask us to remember the 21st night of September. They gave us reason to dance through it.

Do you remember?