Philip Bailey | |
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 Bailey in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Philip James Bailey |
| Born | (1951-05-08)May 8, 1951 (age 73) Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1970–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Earth, Wind & Fire |
| Website | philipbailey |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
Philip James Bailey (born May 8, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers (along with group founderMaurice White) of the bandEarth, Wind & Fire. Noted for his four-octave vocal range and distinctivefalsetto register, Bailey was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame and theVocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire.[1][2][3] Bailey was also inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Fame for his work with the band.[1]
Bailey has released several solo albums, the most notable beingChinese Wall, released in 1984, which earned a Grammy nomination forBest R&B Vocal Performance, Male. This LP included the hit single, "Easy Lover", a duet withPhil Collins, who also produced the album. The track won anMTV Video Music Award forBest Overall Performance in a Video in1985, was nominated for anAmerican Music Award in the category of Favorite Pop/Rock Video, and earned a Grammy nomination forBest Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals. Bailey has in all won seven Grammys out of twenty one nominations.[4][5][6]
In May 2008, Bailey was bestowed with a Honorary Doctorate of Music fromBerklee College of Music. During the 2008 commencement ceremony at Berklee, he gave the commencement speech.[7] He was later inducted, in November 2017, to theColorado Music Hall of Fame.[8]
Bailey was born and raised inDenver,Colorado. He attended Denver'sEast High School. He later attended theMetropolitan State University of Denver and theUniversity of Colorado thereafter. Bailey was also in a local R&B band called Friends & Love.[9][10] Some of Bailey's early influences includedjazz musicians such asMiles Davis,John Coltrane andMax Roach, theMotown sound, in particular the music ofStevie Wonder, and he was also largely influenced by female singers such asSarah Vaughan andDionne Warwick.[11]
In 1972, while attending theUniversity of Colorado, Bailey was invited to join the bandEarth, Wind & Fire by founder andbandleaderMaurice White.[9] Soon afterwards he solely sang lead vocals with his falsetto on songs such asDevotion,Keep Your Head to the Sky,Reasons,Fantasy,Star,I've Had Enough,Turn on (The Beat Box),When Love Goes Wrong,Guiding Lights andMy Promise.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Bailey also shared lead vocals with White on tunes likeShining Star,Getaway,September,Sing A Song,Serpentine Fire,Saturday Nite,Can't Hide Love,That's the Way of the World andBoogie Wonderland withThe Emotions.[12][13]
During the mid-1990s Maurice White put his touring days to a close. Bailey then became the on-stage leader of Earth, Wind & Fire. As of now he still shares the stage with longtime band members, bassistVerdine White and vocalist/percussionistRalph Johnson.[11] With his four octave vocal range, Bailey foremostly sings in hisfalsetto, and sometimes alike thetenor of Maurice White, whilst illustrating his vocal versatility.[19]
During 1983, Bailey issued his debut studio album, titledContinuation, onColumbia Records.[20] The album reached No. 19 on the USBillboardTop R&B Albums chart, No. 36 on theDutch Pop Albums chart and No. 31 on theSwedish Pop Albums chart.[21][22][23] Martin Basch of theBoston Globe declared "this is the rare R&B dance album where each cut is outstanding".[24] Hugh Wyatt of theNew York Daily News also called Continuation "a top-notch recording".[25] A single off the album titled "I Know" rose to No. 10 on the USBillboardHot R&B Songs chart.[26]
During 1984, Bailey also released his third solo and second secular album, titledChinese Wall on Columbia. The album reached No. 22 on theBillboard 200 chart and No. 10 on theBillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album was certifiedGold in the US by theRIAA. A duet withPhil Collins entitled "Easy Lover", rose to No. 1 on theUK Pop Singles chart and No. 2 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart.[27][28] The single "Walking On the Chinese Wall" reached No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100[29] and No. 34 on theBillboard Hits of the World Britain.[30]
During 1986 Bailey went on to issue his fourth studio album, titledInside Out on Columbia. The album reached No. 30 on the USBillboardTop R&B Albums chart, No. 29 on theSwiss Pop Albums chart and No. 30 on theSwedish Pop Albums chart.[31][32][33]Carlo Wolff of theBoston Globe wrote "Bailey's most coherent and relaxed solo album chronicles walk through city streets, his eyes turned toward the heavens".[34] Thom Duffy of theOrlando Sentinel said "on this new album, Bailey aims for a polished yet punchy funk and ballad style."[35]
A single from the album entitled "State of the Heart" reached No. 20 on the USBillboardHot R&B Songs chart.[36]
During 1994, Bailey issued hisself titled fifth studio album onZoo Entertainment. Artists includingBrian McKnight,Chuckii Booker andPM Dawn guested on the LP. Carol Cooper ofNewsday wrote, "Philip Bailey takes another step forward for neo-traditionalism in black music, with the sensitive gentleman-crooner triumphantly ascendant."[37]Michael Eric Dyson ofRolling Stone stated "In the hands of a lesser talent, some of these songs might barely seep through the cracks, less than memorable fare conjured up to please a legend. But Bailey's grace and magic, apparent throughout, redeem the recordings." Dyson added "What's remarkable above all on this album is that Bailey's brilliant falsetto retains its sweet purity, even as he employs more of a pleasing baritone than he has revealed before. While that alone doesn't compensate for some of the just-OK stuff he has to work with, it delights nonetheless."[38]
A single called "Here With Me" rose to No. 33 on theBillboardAdult R&B Songs chart.[39]
Bailey went on to release his first jazz album, titledDreams in 1999 onHeads Up International records. The album featured artists such as Gerald Albright,Grover Washington, Jr. andPat Metheny. It reached No. 43 on theBillboardJazz Albums chart.[40] Paula Edelstein ofAll About Jazz said "Philip sings with the spiritual essence from on high and with the finesse and soul of the Song Master that he is. This CD is worth the wait".[41] Al Hunter Jr. of thePhiladelphia Daily News wrote ""Dreams" is an excellent showcase for Bailey" adding "Bailey serves up a jazz-flavored disc that is as impressive as his four-octave singing range."[42]During 2002 he releasedSoul on Jazz, his sophomore jazz album once again on Heads Up. The album rose to No. 45 upon theBillboard Jazz Albums chart.[43] Christopher Loudon ofJazz Times proclaimed "reinterpreting jazz treasures both familiar and lesser-known, he moves from triumph to triumph."[44] The Associated Press declared "His new solo compilation, mixes two of the most creative forms of music.".."After more than 30 years, Bailey's sound is more innovative than ever."[45]
Bailey then issued in 2019 his third jazz album entitledLove Will Find A Way onVerve Records.[46] That album reached No. 1 on both theBillboardTop Jazz Albums chart and theBillboardContemporary Jazz Albums chart.[47][48]
Music criticAnn Powers ofNPR placedLove Will Find a Way at No. 5 on her list of the Top Ten Albums of 2019.[49] Phil Freeman ofStereogum gaveLove Will Find a Way an honourable mention in his list of the Ten Best Jazz Albums of 2019.[50] Bailey also won Soul Act of the Year at the 2020Jazz FM Awards.[51]
Bailey featured onAndraé Crouch's 1979 Grammy winning albumI'll Be Thinking of You and alongside Maurice White onWalter Hawkins' 1980Grammy nominated album,The Hawkins Family.[52][53][54]
In 1980, Bailey joined friends,Deniece Williams,Billy Davis andMarilyn McCoo to present a gospel show, called "Jesus At the Roxy", at a Los Angeles club namedThe Roxy. Williams later said "God did something miraculous. Over three hundred people were saved." After that, both Bailey and Williams decided to pursue careers in Christian music.[55]
During 1984, Bailey issued his first gospel album titledThe Wonders of His Love onMyrrh Records.[56] The album reached No. 13 on theBillboardChristian Albums chart and No. 17 on theBillboardTop Gospel Albums chart.[57][58]The Wonders of His Love was alsoGrammy nominated in the category ofBest Inspirational Performance.[4]
His second gospel albumTriumph was released in 1986 onHorizon Records.[59] The LP reached No. 18 on theTop Christian Albums chart and No. 33 on theBillboardTop Gospel Albums chart.[60][61] Triumph also won aGrammy forBest Gospel Performance, Male.[4]
During 1989 he released his third gospel album titledFamily Affair onMyrrh Records.[62] The album reached No. 37 on theBillboardTop Gospel Albums chart.[63]
Bailey later played percussion and sang on the King Baptist Church Mass Choir's 1990 albumHolding on to Jesus' Hand.[64]
Bailey sang on Jazz guitaristAlphonso Johnson's 1976 LPYesterday's Dreams. He later played percussion alongsideVerdine White on bass upon the track "Tahiti Hut" composed by bothMaurice White andEumir Deodato from Deodato's 1978 albumLove Island.[65][66] He also sang onRonnie Laws' 1978 albumFlame.[67]
Bailey went on to produce R&B Band Kinsman Dazz's 1978 debut LPKinsman Dazz and work as an arranger and guest artist on their sophomore 1979 albumDazz. As a band, Kinsman Dazz later became known as theDazz Band. Bailey also collaborated as a vocalist withRamsey Lewis on his 1980 LPRoutes,Stanley Turrentine on his 1981 albumTender Togetherness andDeniece Williams on her 1983Grammy nominated albumI'm So Proud.[67][68]
As well he guested on Stevie Wonder's 1985In Square Circle album,[69]Kenny Loggins' 1985 LPVox Humana,[70]Ray Parker Jr.'s 1987 albumAfter Dark andAnita Pointer's 1987 LPLove for What It Is. Bailey also collaborated withJulio Iglesias on his 1988 albumNon Stop and Deniece Williams on her 1988 albumAs Good As It Gets. Bailey then collaborated withLittle Richard on thetitle tune of the soundtrack to the 1988 feature filmTwins. That song reached No. 16 on theDutch Pop Singles chart and No. 36 on theBelgian Pop Singles chart. Twins was also nominated for aGolden Globe in the category ofBest Original Song.[71][72][73][74][67][75][76]
He later featured onNancy Wilson's 1989 LPA Lady with a Song,Dianne Reeves' 1990 albumNever Too Far andGeorge Duke andStanley Clarke's 1990 LP3. Bailey also guested on jazz groupFourplay's 1991self-titled debut album, Ronnie Laws' 1992 LPDeep Soul, George Duke's 1992 albumSnapshot, Fourplay's 1993 sophomore LPBetween the Sheets andChante Moore's 1994 albumA Love Supreme.[67]
Bailey then featured onKeiko Matsui's 1994 LPDoll,Doc Powell's 1996 albumInner City Blues, George Duke's 2000 Grammy nominated albumCool,Boney James's 2006 LPShine, Deniece Williams' 2007 albumLove Niecy Style andGerald Albright's 2008 Grammy nominated LPSax for Stax.[67][77][78][79][80][81][82]
He later appeared on the songFool for You fromCeeLo Green's 2010 albumThe Lady Killer. Fool for You got to No. 1 on theBillboardAdult R&B Songs chart and No. 13 on theBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. That song also won twoGrammy Awards in the categories ofBest Traditional R&B Performance andBest R&B Song.[83][84][85][86] Bailey also sang onNathan East's 2017 LPReverence.A cover of "Serpentine Fire" from that album featuring Bailey,Verdine White andRalph Johnson reached No. 17 on theBillboardSmooth Jazz Songs chart.[87][88] Bailey thereafter made a guest appearance onChick Corea's 2018 albumChinese Butterfly.[89]
He also sang uncredited vocals onTravis Scott's "Stop Trying to Be God". The song also features fellow musiciansStevie Wonder,Kid Cudi, andJames Blake and appeared on Scott's 2018 albumAstroworld.[90]
Bailey appeared in a 1995 Chicago staging ofRaisin, the Broadway musical based onA Raisin In The Sun.[91][92]
On October 27, 2007, Bailey sang "God Bless America" during theseventh-inning stretch in Game 3 of the2007 World Series held atCoors Field,Denver, Colorado. This was the firstWorld Series game that was ever played in his hometown of Denver.[93] He also threw out the ceremonial first pitch on June 30, 2012, in anMLB game between theTampa Bay Rays and theDetroit Tigers held atTropicana Field,St. Petersburg, Florida.[94]
TheGrammy Awards are awarded annually by theNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Bailey has received one award out of four solo nominations.[4]
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Best Inspirational Performance | The Wonders of His Love | Nominated |
| 1985 | Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male | Chinese Wall | Nominated |
| Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | "Easy Lover" | Nominated | |
| 1985 | Best Gospel Performance, Male | Triumph | Won |
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