Phoenix Horns

The Phenix Horns
The Phenix Horns in 1982. From second left: Don Myrick on saxophone, Louis Satterfield on trombone, Michael Harris on trumpet and Rahmlee Michael Davis also on trumpet.
Background information
Also known as	EWF Horns
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Funk, jazz, pop, soul, R&B
Labels	ARC, Columbia
Website	www.thephenixhorns.com
Past members	Don Myrick (deceased) Louis Satterfield (deceased) Rhamlee Michael Davis Michael Harris

The Phenix Horns [sic], originally known as the EWF Horns, were the main horn section for Earth, Wind & Fire, Phil Collins and Genesis. The four members were Don Myrick on saxophones, Louis "Lui Lui" Satterfield on trombone, Rahmlee Michael Davis on trumpet and Michael Harris on trumpet.

Don Myrick, Louis Satterfield and Ramlee Michael Davis recorded in the early 70s with the formation, The Pharaohs, from which two albums have been re-issued on CD: The Awakening, recorded in 1971, and a live album, In the Basement, recorded in 1972.

The inception of the group came about through a pair of connections centered around Louis Satterfield. Maurice White, in the process of embarking on a solo career after working in the Ramsey Lewis Trio, met Satterfield while doing some early recordings at Chicago's Chess Studios. Satterfield was working primarily as a session bassist at the time, his most memorable contribution being the bassline to Fontella Bass's Rescue Me. White's brother Verdine soon joined the fledgling group on bass, and Maurice expanded the band's timbral palette to include horns. Myrick and Davis, Satterfield's bandmates from The Pharaohs, joined the group, along with lead trumpet player Michael Harris and featured flautist/saxophonist Ronnie Laws (Laws's role was often separate from that of the horn section itself, as he was called upon to provide a solo voice rather than serve exclusively in a supporting role).