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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 1450
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 02:23 am: | 
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Foks,
Here is a listing of recordings that were written, produced and arranged by Charles Stepney
EARTH WIND & FIRE (Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame inductee):
All About Love
Can't Hide Love
Celebrate
Devotion
Getaway
Imagination
On Your Face
Reasons
Saturday Nite
Shining Star
Singasong
Sun Goddess (also performed by Ramsey Lewis)
That's the Way of the World
Yearnin' Learnin'
THE DELLS (Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame inductee):
Freedom Means
Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation
Oh What a Night
Stay In My Corner
The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind)
MUDDY WATERS (Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame inductee)
Electric Mudd album (Water's biggest selling recording)
RAMSEY LEWIS
Close Your Eyes And Remember
Eternal Journey
Mother Nature's Son
Sun Goddess (also performed by Earth Wind & Fire)
EDDIE HARRIS (Charles' childhood friend):
Theme in Search of a Commercial
Theme in Search of a Movie
MINNIE RIPERTON (produced, arranged and co-wrote her first album "Come To My Garden")
Completeness
Les Fleur
Only When I'm Dreaming
Rainy Day In Centerville
DENIECE WILLIAMS (produced, arranged and co-wrote her first album "This Is Niecey")
Free
That's What Friends Are For
THE EMOTIONS
Flowers
I don't Want To Lose Your Love
ROTARY CONNECTION (which featured Minnie Riperton before she became a solo performer)
Hey Love
I Am the Black Gold of the Sun
If I Sing My Song
Love Has Fallen on Me (which was later licensed by Chaka Khan)
Love Is
Vine of Happiness
TERRY CALLIER
Occasional Rain
What Color is Love
Other member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with whom Charles worked with include Howlin' Wolf, Etta James, Willie Dixon and Leonard Chess. And English-born Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Elton John, Freddy Mercury (of Queen) and Elvis Costello cited him and his work as having a major influence on their musical development.
Hip-hoppers P.Diddy, Missy Elliot, Master P., A Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees, Ghostface Killah, Nyorican Soul, McHammer, Queen Pen, Tracey Lee have sampled his music.
And before he died in 1976, he was in discussions to produce/arrange recordings for Michael Jackson and Barbra Streisand.
Perhaps the only reason why Charles is not universally known is he never went-Hollywood. Unlike his contemporaries, he remained very much a quiet, unassuming family man and life-long resident of the South Side of Chicago.
He, sadly, died in 1975 at the age of 45.
Check out the link below. It quotes Charles' views about the music of his day.
http://www.kirkdegiorgio.com/stepneyarticle.htm . |
A_womon
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 813
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 07:26 am: |
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Hey! I know some of these! EWF reasons and shining star, dells stay in my corner deneice williams free and ummmmmmmm uhhhhhhh...dells stay in my corner and ewf reasons, and .... |
Miss_wysteria
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Miss_wysteria
Post Number: 258
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 08:41 am: |
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Boy do I love Charles Stepney.
What a brilliant, spirit-inflected man.
I'm going to write a poem about him for my next poetry collection.
He had a hand in many of my all time favorite songs. I love all that kind of music. Especially EARTH WIND AND FIRE and THE EMOTIONS.
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Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 681
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 11:08 am: |
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This guy was one of the last of a dying breed, people in Muzbiz who know music. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 1445
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 12:13 pm: |
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I'd classify him as an unsung hero. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 1468
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 02:43 pm: |
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Carey,
(The following addresses what you said within the "Smooth Jazz" thread.)
Rotary Connection was largely a "vanity" project concocted by Marshall Chess, son of Leonard Chess, founder-owner of Chicago’s famed Chess-Cadet Records (original recording home of alltime Blues/Rock greats Chuck Berry, Bo Didley, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, etc.).
Essentially, Marshall was attempting to capitalize on the then-growing 60’s craze of ‘fusion’ music (i.e., blend of classical, jazz, R&B, gospel, rock, etc.). Because they were a hodgepodge of all the reigning musical genres, Rotary Connection projects did not always work (ala like putting too many ingredients in a stew). But some of it did. And those that clicked are some of the more intriguing recordings you’ll here.
The project pretty much came undone when Minnie Riperton elected to pursue a sole career.
If you can, check out Rotary’s "I Am The Black Gold of the Sun" ("Hey Love" album).
For the New Yorkers: Little Louie Vega and Kenny "dope" Gonzale of Master’s At Work (via their "Nyorican Soul" album) and famed ‘House music’ singer Jocelyn Brown made a popular (though far-inferior) remake of "Black Gold" about 7 years ago. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 1495
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 01:54 pm: |
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Miss_wysteria,
Thanks for your offer.
I imagine the spirit of Charles Stepney would appreciate someone of your great talents honoring him.
And he might have enjoyed scripting music for your enthralling poetry. 
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