Philip Bailey

Early days

Bailey was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He attended East High School in Denver and graduated in 1969. He was also in a local R&B band called Friends & Love.^[7] Some of Bailey's early influences included jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Max Roach, the Motown sound, in particular the music of Stevie Wonder and he was also largely influenced by female singers such as Sarah Vaughan and Dionne Warwick.^[8]

Earth, Wind & Fire

In 1972, while attending college, Bailey was invited to join the band Earth, Wind & Fire by EWF-founder and bandleader Maurice White.^[2] Bailey went on to lead such popular Earth, Wind & Fire songs as "Devotion," "Keep Your Head to the Sky," "Reasons," "Fantasy," "I'll Write A Song For You," "Imagination," "I've Had Enough," and "Guiding Lights." He also shared lead vocals with Maurice White on such EWF hits as "Shining Star," "Getaway," "September," "Sing A Song," "Serpentine Fire," "Saturday Night," and sang lead with both White, and the girl group The Emotions, on their classic disco collaboration, "Boogie Wonderland."

With Maurice White's retirement and then death, Bailey became the on-stage leader of Earth, Wind & Fire, along with bassist Verdine White, vocalist/percussionist Ralph Johnson and vocalist/percussionist B. David Whitworth.^[8]

In live duet performances, Bailey will sing his falsetto part, then switch to the vocal part originally sung by White, showing off his vocal prowess and versatility.

Philip Bailey performing in 2011

Solo albums

Bailey issued in 1983 his debut studio album entitled Continuation on Columbia Records. The album got to No. 19 upon the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. An album cut entitled I Know rose to No. 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[9][10][11]

During 1984 he released his sophomore solo album entitled Chinese Wall upon Columbia Records. Produced by Phil Collins the album got to Nos. 22 & 10 upon the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Off the album, a duet with Collins entitled "Easy Lover", got to Nos. 1 & 2 upon the UK Singles and Billboard Hot 100 charts respectively. While Bailey had a number of hits with Earth, Wind & Fire, "Easy Lover" was his only Top 40 solo hit.^[12]

He went on to issue his third studio album being Inside Out in 1986 on Columbia. The album got to No. 30 upon the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Off the album a single entitled State Of The Heart got to No. 20 upon the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[13][14][15]

During 1994 Bailey issued his self titled fourth studio album on Zoo Entertainment. Artistes such as Brian McKnight, Chuckii Booker and PM Dawn guested on the LP. The album cut Here With Me also rose to No. 33 upon the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.^[16][17]

Bailey went on to release his first jazz album entitled Dreams in 1999 upon Heads Up International records. Dreams featured artistes such as Gerald Albright, Grover Washington, Jr. and Pat Metheny. As well the album got to No. 43 upon the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.^[18][19] During 2002 he released Soul on Jazz, his sophomore jazz album once again on Heads Up. The album rose to No. 45 upon the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.^[20][21]

Gospel

In 1979, Bailey collaborated with Andraé Crouch on his album I'll Be Thinking of You, and in 1981 he and Maurice White collaborated with The Hawkins Family on their live album, The Hawkins Family Live.^[22]

In 1980, Bailey joined with friends, Deniece Williams, Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo to present a gospel show at a popular Los Angeles club named The Roxy. The show was called "Jesus At the Roxy". Williams later reported that "God did something miraculous. Over three hundred people were saved." After that, both Bailey and Williams decided to pursue careers in Christian music.

In 1983, Bailey and Williams recorded "They Say" an atmospheric, slow praise song that builds towards the end with rousing words of praise with just the two voices of Williams and Bailey. The song was written by songwriters Skip Scarborough and Terri McFaddin and was popular on both Urban and Gospel Black radio. Williams later recorded the song with Christian artist Sandi Patti and won a Grammy for it.

In 1984, Bailey released his first gospel album The Wonders of His Love on Myrrh Records which reached number 13 and 17 on the Top Contemporary Christian and Top Gospel Albums charts respectively and it featured percussionist Paulinho da Costa and pianist and keyboard player George Duke.

His second gospel album Triumph was released in 1986, and the album won Bailey a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance, Male and reached number 18 on the Top Contemporary Christian charts. In 1989, he released his third gospel album Family Affair on which Sheldon Reynolds and Kirk Whalum appeared. He played percussion and provided vocals on the King Baptist Church Mass Choir's album Holding on to Jesus' Hand, released in 1990.

Work with other artists

Bailey went on to produce R&B Band Kinsman Dazz's 1978 debut LP Kinsman Dazz. As well he produced their sophomore 1979 album Dazz. As a band Kinsman Dazz later became known as the Dazz Band. Bailey also collaborated as a vocalist with tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine on his 1981 album Tender Togetherness.^[2][23]

As well he guested on Stevie Wonder's 1985 "In Square Circle" album, Kenny Loggins' 1985 LP Vox Humana, Ray Parker Jr.'s 1987 album After Dark and Anita Pointer on her 1987 LP Love for What It Is. Bailey also collaborated with Julio Iglesias on his 1988 album Non Stop, Little Richard on the soundtrack of the 1988 feature film Twins and Deniece Williams on her 1988 album As Good As It Gets. As well he featured as a vocalist upon jazz singer Nancy Wilson 1989 LP Lady With A Song, jazz group Fourplay's 1991 self-titled debut album, George Duke's LP of the following year Snapshot and Fourplay's 1993 sophomore album Between the Sheets.^[2]

Bailey also guested on Chante Moore's 1994 album A Love Supreme, George Duke's 2000 LP Cool, Boney James's 2006 album Shine and Deniece Williams' 2007 LP Love Niecy Style.^[2][24]

On October 27, 2007, Bailey sang "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch of the first World Series game ever to be played in his hometown of Denver (Game 3 in 2007).^[25]

Bailey sung uncredited vocals on Travis Scott's "STOP TRYING TO BE GOD" from his 2018 album Astroworld. The song also features fellow musicians Stevie Wonder and Kid Cudi.

On screen

Bailey has appeared on the TV show Matlock portraying Pvt. Bobby Thomas.^[26]

Personal life

Bailey is currently married to singer/ songwriter, Valerie Bailey (née Davis), who has worked with superstars Whitney Houston, Celine Dion etc. Bailey is the father of seven children; One of his children, Pili Bailey, is the daughter of Jeanette Hutchinson of the R&B hit group The Emotions. His son, Philip Doron Bailey, is also a member of Earth Wind & Fire.

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Bailey has received one award out of four solo nominations.^[27]

Albums