With Janet in Colorado in 1974.
Sharing a duet with Jessica Cleaves, who joined EWF as a vocalist in 1972 after leaving the Friends of Distinction.
With my childhood friend Henry Colbath during an Earth, Wind & Fire concert in Hawaii, just before the birth of my daughter Trinity.
With Maurice White in 1975, singing “Keep Your Head to the Sky.”
In 1975 EWF toured Europe with Santana to promote That’s the Way of the World. In London, from left to right: Larry Dunn, Verdine White (far back), me, Ralph Johnson, a musician from Santana, Don Myrick, Ndugo Chandler, Al McKay, Andrew Woolfolk, Michael Harris, and Lou Saterfield.
With Andrew Woolfolk, a versatile horn player with whom I worked early in my career in Denver, and who later joined EWF on saxophone, in 1975.
Al, Verdine, Andrew, Ralph, and one of Santana’s players during the 1975 European summer tour.
On tour with EWF’s keyboardist Larry Dunn, another old friend from my Denver days.
Freddy White (left), Ralph Johnson (center), and me (right) posing during a Latin Percussion photo shoot.
In Hawaii in 1975—Chico Woolfolk, Andrew Woolfolk, Larry Dunn, me, Carl Carwell, Al McKay, and Johnny Graham.
Me, Larry Dunn, Freddy White, and Al McKay during a sound check in Hawaii.
Backstage the gang gets ready to play—Al McKay, Ralph Johnson, Andrew Woolfolk, and Larry Dunn.
EWF toured America almost nonstop during the late 1970s. Al McKay, Maurice White, and Andrew Woolfolk on the tour bus that took us across the country.
In Honolulu in 1980 with Janet and our kids: Sir, Trinity, and Creed.
INDEX
The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. The link provided will take you to the beginning of that print page. You may need to scroll forward from that location to find the corresponding reference on your e-reader.
ABBA, 185
Adams, Verdine, Sr., 50, 51, 56, 57–58, 177
Adderly, Cannonball, 91
African Americans
Denver communities of, 13–14
migration of, 12–13
“After the Love Is Gone,” 187–89, 191, 212, 221, 229
“A Gift of Song” (UNICEF benefit), 184–85
Airplay, 187
Ali, Muhammad, 60
“All About Love,” 140
All ‘N All (album), 152, 153, 177–80, 186
American Natural Foods, 86
Anheuser Busch, 218
Another Voyage (album), 53
ARC Records, 183–84
arena tours, 169–73
Arista Records, 131
Arnold, Larkin, 215
Ashford, Bill, 74–75
Atlantic Records, 47–48, 49
Azoff, Irving, 223
Azteca, 113, 114
Baby Huey and the Babysitters, 45, 57
Bacharach, Burt, 84, 126, 220
Bailey, Beverly, 10, 15, 16–17, 21, 27
Bailey, Creed Ellington, 167, 225
Bailey, Edward Alverna, 11, 12, 14–15, 38, 176–77
Bailey, Jaleel Mikale, 229, 230, 231
Bailey, Jaylen Christopher, 229, 230
Bailey, Philip Doron, 167, 223, 225, 233
Bailey, Philip James. See also Earth, Wind & Fire
as absentee father and husband, 166–69
arrogance and, 26–27
awards and accolades, 227–28
birth of, 10–11
car accident involving, 41–42
childhood of, 11–12, 14–28
Chinese Wall sessions and album, 211–12, 213, 215
Christianity/relationship with God and, 153–61, 234–35
Continuation, 208
counterculture era and, 39–42
disbanding of EWF and, 204–8
drug use and, 40–41
early professional life of, 29–33
first marriage of, 36–42
first meets Maurice and Verdine White, 65–66
first son born, 73
Friends & Love and, 39, 44, 45–46, 56, 65, 66–67
growing up fatherless and, 27–28, 33
illnesses of, 11–12
Inside Out sessions and album, 213
inspiration for “Shining Star,” 132, 137
joins Earth, Wind & Fire, 1–2, 78–79
Jupiter incident, 152–53
KIFM gig with Benoit/Freeman, 221–22
mother’s passing away, 160–61
moves to L.A., 67–68
musical education of, 22–24
musical influences of, 21–22, 30, 32
Music Is Unity nonprofit, creation of, 232
Perry Jones and, 43–46
reconciles with father, 176–77
second marriage of, 229
sports and, 24–25
stays with Perry in L.A., 69–74
Stovall sisters gig, 72–74
teen sexuality of, 33–35
womanizing of, 149–51
Wonders of Love, 208–9
Bailey, Pili Asabi Foluke Titilayo, 168–69, 230, 231
Bailey, Sir James, 73, 78, 89, 135, 148, 166–67, 196
Bailey, Trinity Donet, 146, 148, 166–67, 168, 225, 232
“Ball of Confusion,” 32
Barrett, T. L., 154–55, 156, 157, 161
Bass, Fontella, 52
Bautista, Roland, 2, 83, 85, 109, 115, 149, 201
BBC (Brown, Bloch and Coby), 60, 61, 95–96
Beal, Michael, 59, 81, 83
Beck, Jeff, 213
Bee Gees, 180–81, 182, 183, 185
“Be Ever Wonderful,” 180
Benoit, David, 221
The Benoit/Freeman Project (album), 221
Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 (album), 183
BET (Black Entertainment Television), 201
Big Brother and the Holding Company, 101
Bishop, Jimmy, 64
Bitches Brew (album), 48, 109
Black Panther Party, 62
Blaine, Hal, 93
blaxploitation, 91–92
Bloch, Paul, 60
Blood, Sweat & Tears, 32, 101
Blue (album), 69
Bobo, Willie, 77
Bono, Sonny, 93
“Boogie Wonderland,” 191–92
Booker, Walter, 91
The Boys, 220
Brasil ’66, 84
Bread, 108, 126
Brown, James, 83
Brown, Jim, 48, 59–61, 95–96
Bruderlin, Brian, 62
Buckman, Philip, 22
Budfest shows, 218
Cadet, 51, 53, 56
California Jam, 146
Callier, Terry, 125
Cameo, 108
“Can’t Hide Love,” 164, 218
Captain & Tennille, 55
Caribou Ranch, 129, 133, 135
Carne, Doug, 63
Carne, Jean, 63
Carwell, Carl, 39, 78
Cavallo, Robert, 94–106, 111, 122, 135, 137–38, 142, 165, 170, 173, 181, 182, 192, 202–3, 222–23. See also Cavallo-Ruffalo
arranges Columbia auditions and signing of EWF, 100–6
asks Brown to release EWF, 95–96
EWF audition for, 97–98
gets Warner to release EWF, 99–100
as manager of Lovin’ Spoonful, 94–95
signs EWF, 99
Cavallo-Ruffalo, 99, 100, 105, 111, 131, 166, 179, 182–83, 202–3, 206–7, 208, 210
CBS, 183
CBS Convention gig, 113–14
Cellar Door, 94
Chambers Brothers, 101
&
nbsp; Champlin, Bill, 187
“The Champ,” 31
Chandler, Gene, 30
Charles, Ray, 88
Chess, Leonard, 51
Chess, Philip, 51
Chess Records, 44, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57
Chess Studios, 51
Chicago Transit Authority, 32, 101, 231
“Children of the Ghetto,” 211
Childs, Carole, 187–88
Chinese Wall (album), 211–12, 213, 215
Chopra, Deepak, 207
choreography, 172, 180
Christianity, 153–61
Clapton, Eric, 211, 227
Cleaves, Jessica, 2, 82–83, 110, 116, 119
Clinton, Bill, 228
Clinton, George, 108
“Cloud Nine,” 39–40
Cobham, Billy, 108
Coby, Richard, 60
Cohen, Leonard, 228
Colette, Martine, 147–48
Collins, Bootsy, 108
Collins, Phil, 204, 210–11, 213, 216, 228
Columbia Records, 2, 3, 100–6, 113–14, 130, 131, 139, 165, 166, 182, 183, 197, 208, 214
Combs, Robert James, 18–19, 21
comeback tour, 217–19
Come to My Garden (album), 125
Complex, 184
Concept, 51
“Concept,” of EWF, 1–7, 96, 98, 165, 166, 206, 226
congas, 134–35
Continuation (album), 208
Copperfield, David, 170, 171
Cosby, Bill, 116
costumes, 4, 90, 147–48, 172–73, 180
counterculture era, 39–42
Crane, Peggy, 12
Creative Arts Agency (CAA), 222, 223
Crocker, Frankie, 64, 131
Crosby, Stills & Nash, 45
Crossland, Elizabeth, 9–12, 14–19, 25–28, 33, 160–61
Crossland, James, 9–10, 17
Crossland, Lilmon, 9, 10
CTI Records, 23
Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions, 31
Da Costa, Paulinho, 196
David, Hal, 84, 126
Davis, Barbara, 12
Davis, Clive, 100–6, 130, 131
Davis, Marvin, 12
Davis, Miles, 48, 101, 109
Davis, Mr., 25
Davis, Rahmlee Michael, 149
Deele and the Time, 218
DeJohnette, Jack, 52
Del Barrio, Eddie, 197
The Dells, 52, 126
Denver, John, 40
DeShannon, Jackie, 228
“Devotion,” 127, 129, 150, 160, 190
“Dew Drop Inn,” 70
“Diana,” 159
disbanding, of EWF, 204–8
“Domino,” 71
Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert (TV show), 172
Douglas, Steve, 93
Dow, Harold, 70
“Do You Believe in Magic,” 94, 95
Dr. Daddy-O, 65, 66
Dragon, Carmen, 55
Dragon, Darryl, 55
Drayton, Leslie, 59
drug use, 40–41, 87–89
“Drum Song,” 129
Duke, George, 208, 213
Dunn, Debbie, 89, 178
Dunn, Larry, 2, 30–32, 37, 39, 44, 65, 79–80, 85, 89, 93, 125, 143–44, 146, 147, 150, 154, 157, 169, 174, 180, 184, 196, 198, 199, 216
Dupree, Cornell, 133–34
Dylan, Bob, 95
Dynamics, 30
Dyson, Steve, 25
Earth, Wind & Fire
All ‘N All record and tour, 152, 153, 177–80, 186
arena tours and extravagant shows of, 169–73
audition for Davis, 101–2
awards and accolades, 227–28
Bailey joins, 1–2, 78–79
Bailey’s leadership of, 224–26
Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1, 183
Brown as manager of, 59–61
at California Jam, 146
Cavallo and Ruffalo become mangers of, 95–99
CBS Convention gig, 113–14
Chicago, tours with, 231
choreography and, 172, 180
collaborative nature of, 89–91
“Concept” of, 1–7, 96, 98, 165, 166, 206, 226
core audience, shift in, 164–65
disbanding of, 204–8
drums and percussion of, 134–35
Dunn joins, 79–80
early touring days of, 2–3, 107–8, 112–13
Earth, Wind & Fire, 1, 61
Electric Universe, 203, 204
Faces sessions and record, 195–97, 200
financial inequality between band members and Maurice, 198, 201–2
Foster and, 186–93
Graham joins, 117
Grammy awards, 142, 185, 204
Gratitude, 163–65
Head to the Sky, 118–19
Heritage, 220
I Am sessions and record, 189–93, 196
Jones and, 63–65, 74–75, 110–12, 165
Last Days and Time, 2, 105, 109, 114
lineup changes after third album, 115–19
magic tricks in shows of, 170–71
McKay fired, 198–200
McKay joins, 115–17
Millenium, 220
NAACP criticisms of, 194–95
natural, holistic philosophical approach of, 86–89
The Need of Love, 1, 62–63, 74, 75, 82
Now, Then & Forever, 232–33
opening for John Sebastian, 103–5
Open Our Eyes, 124, 127–31, 145
orchestras, performances with, 231–32
original lineup, 59–63, 75–76
Phenix horns and, 148–49, 163–64, 178
Powerlight, 203, 204
President Obama, performance for, 233–34
Raise!, 201, 204
reconfiguration of, after original lineup leaves, 78–83
reunion of, and comeback world tour, 215–19
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, 227
second comeback, and tour without Maurice, 222–24
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band project and, 180–82
signs with Columbia Records, 2, 100–6
songwriting process, 135–36
Spirit, 173–75
spirituality, conflicts over, 158–60
station wagon tours, 119–23
Stepney and, 124–29, 143–44
Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song soundtrack, 61–62, 91–92
television exposure, lack of, 171–72
That’s the Way of the World, 135, 139–44, 145, 156, 164, 196
UNICEF benefit appearance of, 184–85
universalism of, 5, 87–88, 96, 140, 153, 158
upstaged by Parliament Funkadelic, 122–23
Uptown Theatre gig, 1972, 3–7, 113
vocal sound of, 84–85, 108–10, 178
Warner Brothers and, 1, 48, 49, 61, 100
White forms, 59
Woolfolk joins, 115
Earth, Wind & Fire (first album), 1, 61
Earth, Wind & Fire Horns, 223
East, Nathan, 208, 211
“Easy Lover,” 211–12, 213, 228
Echoes of Youth, 29
Electric Black, 39
Electric Larry, 74–75
Electric Universe (album), 203, 204
Elektra Records, 47–48
Ellington, Duke, 21
Emery, Sonny, 216
The Emotions, 192
“Energy,” 62–63
Equinox (album), 84
Eric Burdon & War, 44–45
Ertegun, Ahmet, 49
Escovedo, Coke, 113
Escovedo, Pete, 113
Everett, Betty, 52
“Evil,” 118
“Evil Roy,” 216
“Evolution Orange,” 201
Faces (album), 195–97, 200
Faison, George, 172, 180
“Family Affair,” 2
“Fantasy,” 178, 197
Fargnoli, Steve, 202
Fey, Barry, 43, 165
Fifty-Yard Line, 38
fight-or-flight-response, 207
Fitzgerald, Ella, 21
Five Points neighborhood, 13
Flemons, Wade, 56, 59
Ford, Winston, 30, 39
Foster, David Walter, 186–93, 195, 196, 201, 228
Fourplay, 211
Frasco, Jeff, 222
“Freedom Blues,” 70
Freedom Means (album), 126
Freeman, Russ, 221
Friends & Love, 39, 44, 45–46, 56, 65, 66–67, 80
Friends of Distinction, 2, 60, 82
Frontline Management, 223
Full Force, 213
“Full Measure,” 95
Funkadelic, 44
Funk Brothers, 93
Fuqua, Harvey, 3
Gamble, Kenny, 126
Gates, David, 4
Gaye, Marvin, 92, 133
Genesis, 204, 210
George, Lowell, 94, 134, 135
“Getaway,” 173
“The Ghetto,” 133
Gibb, Barry, 183
Gibb, Maurice, 183
Gibb, Robin, 183
“Go,” 211
Goodman, Linda, 153
Gordy, Berry, 93
Gore, Al, 233
“Got to Be Real,” 187
“Got to Get You into My Life,” 181–82, 183, 185, 186
Graham, Johnny, 115, 116, 117, 184
Grammy awards, 142, 185, 204
Grand Funk Railroad, 32
Grant, Amy, 209
Gratitude (album), 163–65
Graydon, Jay, 187
“Grazing in the Grass,” 31
Green, Al, 2
Greenbaum, Norman, 72
Grey, Louis, 195
Guercio, James William, 129
“Guiding Lights,” 233
Guy, Buddy, 52
Hammer, MC, 214–15, 220
Hampton, Lionel, 21
Hancock, Herbie, 48
“Happy Feelings,” 141