January 6, 2014
Bailey, lead singer of Earth, Wind & Fire, chronicles his quest to transcend his humble origins and become his own “shining star” in this new memoir. Bailey is most successful when he stays true to his deep knowledge of music and enthusiasm for the minutiae of the business, as when he charts the myriad influences that contributed to EWF’s unique sound, from Sly Stone to Sergio Mendes. Detailed accounts of the craft of recording, like one of building EWF’s signature groove in the studio with legendary producer Charles Stepney, are a treat for devoted fans of the band. The cast of characters in and around EWF is also vividly rendered, with special attention paid to Bailey’s sometimes-fraught relationships with bandleader Maurice White and White’s younger brother Verdine. Despite Maurice’s unconventional business arrangements and the band’s unceremonious breakup in 1983, Bailey’s respect for his former mentor keeps any bitterness from coming across. Bailey flounders when disclosing details of his personal life, although an early scene with his father is affecting. Still, fans of Bailey’s music will find him a warm and occasionally very funny guide through the elements of this American band that Rolling Stone declared “changed the sound of black pop.”