Weather Report
Founded by Joe Zawinul (keyboards) and Wayne Shorter(reeds). The highly accomplished Weather Report was one of the groups credited with inventing jazz-rock fusion music in the '70s. The two founders had worked together as members of Miles Davis's band in 1969-71, playing on BITCHES’ BREW. The first line-up of Weather Report included Airto Moreira (percussion) and Miroslav Vitous (bass). Signing to CBS Records, the group's first album included compositions by Shorter and Zawinul and the line-up was strengthened by Eric Gravatt (drums) and Um Romao (percussion) on the best-selling I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC. Among the tracks was Zawinul's ambitious Unknown Soldier, evoking the experience of war. During the mid-70s, the group adopted more elements of rock rhythms and electronic technology, a process which reached its peak on BLACK MARKETWHERE Zawinul played synthesizer and the brilliant electric bassist Jaco Pastorius made his first appearance with the group. Pastorius left the group in 1980. 
Weather Report's popularity was at its peak in the late '70s and early '80s, when the group was a four-piece, with drummer Pete Erskine joining Pastorius and the two founder members. He was replaced by Omar Hakim from George Benson's band in 1982, and for the first time Weather Report included vocals on PROCESSION. The singer was Janis Siegel from Manhattan Transfer. During the mid-80s, Zawinul and Shorter made solo albums before dissolving Weather Report in 1986. Shorter led his own small group while Zawinul formed Weather Update with guitarist Steve Khan and Erskine. Hakim went on to become a touring drummer, highly acclaimed for his work with Sting and Eric Clapton.