Sometimes we need a reminder of just how special life can be. Grounded by moments we share with our friends and family, the experiences we share, and many times, the music that bonds us together, there is truly a lot to be thankful for. Putting this into perspective, Earth, Wind & Fire may be one of the best-selling bands of all-time… yet they still remain humble.
Together for over a half a century, Earth, Wind & Fire are a band unlike any other out there; unifying various styles into a bright, colorful sound that is uniquely their own. Factors that have won them 6 Grammys, help sell over 90 million records worldwide, and earn them a rightful place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, even still, the band are steadfast on rocking and rolling. Truly an inspiring bunch of musicians with a sparking light in their soul, perhaps one of the most prominent members of the band has been Mr. Philip Bailey.
Bailey, a key member since all the way in 1972, has stood out with his distinctive vocal ability on many of the band’s hit songs, but also for his percussion talents, and is often recognized by broad audiences for his 1984 joint hit single “Easy Lover” with Phil Collins. Continuing to keep the Earth, Wind & Fire legacy alive, Bailey sat down to talk about the history of the band, what has contributed to their longevity, touring in the Summer of 2024 with Chicago, plus much more.
Cryptic Rock – You have sustained a very successful, exciting musical career as a part of Earth, Wind & Fire, as well as a solo artist across the 50 plus years. Before we dive deeper, how was your incredible musical journey to this point?
Philip Bailey – Well, I would describe my incredible music journey as an extreme blessing. Especially now after all these years, and still doing it on the level that we are enjoying it more; because there’s a greater appreciation for how improbable and difficult it is to make it in this industry… let alone have longevity. So, I would describe it as an extreme, divine blessing for us to have a 50-plus year still-going career.
Cryptic Rock – It is extremely inspiring. Like you said, it is a challenge just to make it in this industry, let alone have longevity. Earth, Wind & Fire has attained that, on their way to becoming one of the best-selling bands of all-time. It is nothing less than impressive to see what you and the band have accomplished through the years.
Philip Bailey – It is. But I think that we have had our valley, and we have had our times of what I call No Man’s Land. We’ve had our No Man’s Land experiences. (Laughs) We survived them and we had a resurgence. Since that resurgence, we’ve never looked back.
Cryptic Rock – And the resurgence has only added to the band’s legacy. One of the things that attributes to the band’s longevity and success is how eclectic the sound of Earth, Wind, & Fire is. You mix so many different genres into the music; from R&B, Jazz, Gospel, Soul, Pop, to Funk and Rock-n-Roll. It is all really melted into the fabric of the sound.
Philip Bailey – That was one of the things. Mixing the different genres of music together, or having them as part of the whole landscape of the music, was a vision that Maurice White had. It was a vision that we all collectively embraced; because we love all different kinds of music.
I came from Colorado and liked everything from Indigenous, Country, to Middle of the Road, to Jazz, Classical… just everything. You can find some good stuff almost everywhere. We wanted to have the music that has shaped our lives represented in the music of Earth, Wind, and Fire.
Cryptic Rock – It most certainly is. With that, the band obviously creates a sound all their own with each of the albums you have recorded. Beyond this, one of most important aspects of Earth, Wind & Fire are the performances. The band truly put on a phenomenal live show that is unlike anything else. There are many different moving parts on stage with all the different musicians, etc. Thinking about that for a moment, that cohesion has to take time to master. What has it been like developing Earth, Wind & Fire into the live band they are?
Philip Bailey – Well, Maurice, Verdine White, and I, have always loved theater. We would take trips to Broadway early on in our careers and spend a few days there watching and going to different shows. It was Maurice’s intent that we really wanted to bring theater to the stage in that same kind of way that transports you out of where you are and into a different place. For those 90 minutes or so, you want to actually be more than entertainment… you want it to be an experience for the audience. For that reason, we worked with different stage directors and illusionists back in the day to really take our show to a different place.
Cryptic Rock – You certainly have done that; anyone who has seen the band live would agree. What is even more magical is that you have recorded in the studio, you bring to the live stage flawlessly. That is not something many acts can do.
Philip Bailey – Well, we’ve always worked hard at it, and we still do. We recently went to a rehearsal facility. We arrived there early in the morning and we were there for a week, rehearsing and getting things together, rehearsing the Chicago songs, and working with them before we headed out for the first concert date. It’s not a given that these things are going to be sharp and they’re going to be tight. You got to work on it, and we do. We enjoy working on it too. It’s a different part of the experience, but we enjoy rehearsing.
Cryptic Rock – That is great to hear. Your shows with Chicago are going to be going on throughout the summer. You toured with Lionel Richie recently in 2023, moving into 2024. The Earth, Wind & Fire touring schedule has been very consistent through the years.
Philip Bailey – They’ve been very consistent; except for COVID that shut everything and everybody down. It’s been 30 years that myself and Verdine have been heading up the band without Maurice. We’ve been very blessed. We’ve been fortunate that the band has not slowed down and the audiences have not waned. They’ve increased over the years. We’re very proud of that.
Cryptic Rock – All very positive things to celebrate. You also have a residency coming up in October in Nevada.
Philip Bailey – Yeah. We have a residency that we’ve been doing. I guess this is going to be our fourth or fifth year at The Venetian. Every year, we add more. We started with a week and now we’re up to three weeks.
Cryptic Rock – That sounds fantastic. Amidst the busy schedule of touring, you personally also found time to release a solo album in 2019. It marked your first solo record in quite some time. What was that like putting that record together?
Philip Bailey – It was a delightful experience working with artists that I listened to and admire such as the late Chick Corea. That was a fantastic experience. I was also able to work with Christian McBride and Kamasi Washington, and just a slew of musicians. The album was called Love Will Find a Way, and we released it on Verve. It was fun! I also got a chance to go out on the road and tour a little bit with it. That was my latest creative offering, and I enjoyed it.
Cryptic Rock – The album also was received very well by listeners. At the time, it had been 12 years between your solo albums, but as mentioned, you have been quite busy with Earth, Wind & Fire. Your most predominantly busy time as a solo artist was during the ’80s during a hiatus period with Earth, Wind & Fire.
Philip Bailey – Yeah. I had opportunities to do that Chinese Wall (1984) record with Phil Collins. Then I did three Gospel albums, won a Grammy for one, toured a little bit on that with Amy Grant. It was a very productive time in the ’80s and I got a chance to do some things that kind of spread my wings and branch out and grow individually. So, when we got back together, I had a lot more to offer.
Cryptic Rock – It is interesting you say that. As a musician, doing anything creatively, you probably do not look back in hindsight too often. One can imagine you just keep moving forward toward what is next.
Philip Bailey – Well, for us now, 50-plus years in, we do look back in hindsight. It helps you; it keeps things in perspective and helps you to really appreciate where you are and make plans for the future. Everyone doesn’t have the liberty or the luxury of being able to do that. Because we do, we’re just extremely grateful.
Cryptic Rock – That is really nice to hear. It is good to have foresight to appreciate it all. You spoke a little about Maurice, and sadly he has been gone for almost a decade now. Maurice had some wonderful visions for the band early, and as we have been speaking about, really blossomed into something special All this considered, when you get up there and perform every night, do you feel like he is still with you and watching over you and the band?
Philip Bailey – We always feel Maurice’s presence during the Earth, Wind & Fire music. His DNA is all over it. We have content on our digital wall of him and the rest of the original nine during the shows. It’s good to look back there and know that the ones that are now ancestors are still looking down on us with blessings.
Cryptic Rock – Like you said, he is all over the music. He is definitely with you in more ways than one.
Philip Bailey – No question, we couldn’t do it without him.
Cryptic Rock – Absolutely. Here is a big question, with all that you have experienced over the last 50 plus years, what do you think are some of the most important things you have learned from everything?
Philip Bailey – I think some of the most important things that I’ve learned is to not get too high and not to get too low. Realizing that it’s a marathon and not a sprint. Life is a marathon and not a sprint. Just be grateful, be humble, and be faithful.
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