Born on May 8: Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind and Fire), Phil Collins' best friend

He was born in 1951 in Denver, Colorado (USA). His name may not be familiar to you, but you certainly know his distinctive voice.

Alongside the late Maurice White who passed away in 2016, Philip Bailey was indeed one of the two lead singers of the group Earth, Wind & Fire at their peak in the late 70s. A few notes of "September" (1978), which has surpassed 1.5 billion streams on Spotify, of "Boogie Wonderland" (1979) or of "Let’s Groove" (1981) are enough to bring back memories of wild nights. After a separation of a few years, Vernon White (Maurice's brother) and Philip Bailey continue to perpetuate the spirit of the group founded in Chicago in 1969.

Philip Bailey also leads a solo career rich with around ten albums including "Chinese Wall" (1984) but now more readily engages with jazzy sounds. He has lent his voice to countless artists, from Stevie Wonder to George Duke, but it's still "Easy Lover", co-written and sung as a duet with Phil Collins, that remains his most notable success. And the guitar solo by Daryl Stuermer is no stranger to it...

(MH with Stéphane Massart - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo of Philip Bailey for the promotion of the album Chinese Wall in Amsterdam (Netherlands) in March 1985