standing ovation and all. >> our visionary, our leader, maurice white. >> reporter: but he has rarelyublic since. we invited him to be part of this story. he declined. earth, wind and fire survived white's departure. they continued to tour successfully. in february 2009 they were one of the first musical groups invited to the obama white house. these days their tour schedule is packed. but the three original band mates, now in their early 60s... >> i'm going to line this up. reporter: ... have learned how to, well, pace themselves. >> you see that shot, baby? reporter: phillip bailey never leaves for a tour without his golf clubs. this course at the royal links golf club in las vegas is one of his favorites. >> this course here is a course that they actually built in 1999. it's the replica of saint andrew's where golf actually started. >> reporter: for someone who has only been playing a few years, he's not bad. >> it's all-encompassing so you play golf and you play for a couple of hours. you feel like you went on a two-hour vacation. it's kind of like meditation. >> reporter: and med

. >> that is quintessential maurice white from the lyrics to the philosophy to the intent. it being something more than just for ourselves. 41 years later, it is still fulfilling his dreams and aspirations because it was bigger than just himself. more than just reasons of getting bling-bling and accolades. fews: stevie wonder or a other artists i can name, that notion of humanity and service, the notion of love has been at the epicenter of the world. why love? need that we all have, it never grows old. somethingst so true, that as we love one another and teach each other, we are all fulfilled. we are fulfilling a need. he said people need to latin, theyazz and need to experience more depth in the music but in a commercial way. how do i do that? that. to change what do i do? we will be about this. that andill able to do it is almost like it is new. people influenced you when you started and you have influenced a bunch of other folks. how does it feel to be on the other end? >> now people come up and they thank us for making the music. they tell us where they were. because us

maurice white thought, listen, we're going to take a break?out, ralph, what did you do? >> i wound up selling stereos. >> selling stereos. you know music. >> well, yes. i said, well, let me go do this. >> they'd say you know what you're talking about? >> in any career whether you're in sports, media, you're going to have peaks and valleys. you learn your biggest lessons down in the valleys so when you come back, you come back stronger. >> what went into this album then, "now, then, and forever?" >> we dug deep and found our own music. >> what's classic about us. >> to final out what's classic and really bring back the essence of who earth wind & fire has been. >> thelots of music cycles. is there a sense that '70s music is back? >> i think so. bruno mars. thing air rah -- this is a brand-new era of a lot of young people who never heard of this music. we come, us old school guys with our album, and we bring our album and we fit in. >> and you look out and have every generation. >> we have a broad demographic. >> i heard your most requested piec