Philip Bailey |
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Mon. May 08.2000 8:46 AM EDT |
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Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Baileyby Contributing Editor Frank Tortoici |
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Philip Bailey, third from left, joined Earth, Wind & Fire in 1972. (Arnold Turner) |
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Philip Bailey has had solo successes, but is best known as the singer/percussionist of Earth, Wind & Fire, the pioneering soul band that emerged in the '70s. He was born
Meanwhile, Earth, Wind & Fire, under the leadership of vocalist/percussionist Maurice White, had already recorded two albums that were minor hits. The group played a funky, horn-based soul with high harmonies that often dipped into African music. Bailey jumped on board in 1972. Earth, Wind & Fire had a big hit with their Head to the Sky (1973), and a top-30 single with "Mighty Mighty" from 1974's 2 million-seller, Open Our Eyes. The band's pop breakthrough, though, was That's the Way of the World (a soundtrack to the 1975 film of the same name, in which the band appeared), which topped the Billboard 200 albums chart for three weeks and featured the #1, Grammy-winning single "Shining Star." The group's 1976 double album, Gratitude, also topped the albums chart for three weeks and spawned the top-5 "Sing a Song." In 1978, All 'n All also sold 2 million copies and became Earth, Wind and Fire's first album to chart in the UK. That year, the band also had a hit with a cover of the Beatles' "Got To Get You into My Life." I Am (1979), was yet another smash, yielding the hit singles "Boogie Wonderland" and "After The Love Has Gone," a Grammy-winning ballad. The band's last top-5 U.S. album was Raise! (1981), featuring the #3 dance song "Let's Groove." In 1985, Bailey had a #2 pop solo smash with "Easy Lover," a duet with Phil Collins. Bailey also won a Grammy Award for his gospel album Triumph! (1986). Earth, Wind & Fire's Milennium (1993) cracked the top 40 of the Billboard 200 albums chart and the next year, the band was inducted into the NAACP Image Hall of Fame. In 1995, Earth, Wind & Fire received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1997, the band released In The Name of Love. The group reportedly is recording a new LP. |
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