Philip Bailey
Philip Bailey ( born May 8, 1951 in Denver) is an American funk, soul and R & B artist. Since 1972 he is a singer and one of the leaders of the group Earth, Wind and Fire.
Career
Philip Bailey grew up in his hometown of Denver and sang in the church choir. He finished high school and went with 20 years to Los Angeles. Maurice White, the head of Earth, Wind & Fire, brought him back in the band. He has a vocal range of four octaves and especially his falsetto in contrast to the tenor of Maurice White was one of the distinctive elements of their music. With Earth, Wind & Fire, he won numerous awards. He wrote some well-known songs of the band and was recorded for the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 1982, Bailey wrote a solo deal with Columbia and presented the work back to Earth, Wind & Fire. With his first work, the LP continuation, he had a moderate success in the U.S.. For the second album Chinese Wall he then sought the cooperation with the Genesis musician Phil Collins, who was also active as a solo artist since the early 80s. Collins produced the album and wrote and sang along with the Bailey hit Easy Lover. The song was an international success and reached number 1 among others in the UK and # 2 in the United States. The single was awarded with gold in both countries, the United States got the album Gold. With Inside Out he only a year later took on his third pop album, for which he won to Nile Rodgers as producer. Although the album achieved international chart positions, but it could not match its predecessor.
After that, the Bailey Gospel music turned to reinforced. As early as 1985 appeared The Wonders of His Love. Like triumph a year later, it reached the Top 20 of the Gospel or the Contemporary Christian charts in the U.S.. For Triumph 1987 he was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance by a male performer. After some time passed, in which he also collaborated again with Earth, Wind & Fire before with Family Affair another gospel album was released, however, this was not so successful.
After another pause, Philip Bailey made again in 1994 to a pop album and collaborated with R & B artists such as Brian McKnight, PM Dawn and Arrested Development. The album, which he published with his name as the title, however, was a flop and only reached number 100 of the R & B charts.
End of the 90s Earth, Wind & Fire took another break after Maurice White was ill, and Bailey took further solo projects. After another gospel album in 1999, he turned the Smooth Jazz. Again he worked at his album Dreams with famous artists of the genre, including Gerald Albright, Grover Washington Jr. and Pat Metheny. In 2002 he released Soul on Jazz, incorporates jazz standards and remakes. The album made it to number 45 of the jazz charts.
Since Maurice White has retired from the stage, Philip Bailey performs with his brother, Verdine White, the band Earth, Wind & Fire.
Solo albums
- Continuation (Columbia 1983 Pop / R & B)
- Chinese Wall (Columbia 1984, Pop / R & B)
- The Wonders of His Love ( Myrrh 1985, gospel )
- Inside Out (Columbia 1986 Pop / R & B)
- Triumph ( Myrrh 1986, gospel ) Grammy Award ( Best Male Gospel presentation )