A Shining Star Eclipsed (7)

In 1976 Maurice White and Charles Stepney formed Kalimba Productions together, producing for a variety of other artists including Deniece Williams (This Is Niecy, including Thats What Friends are For) and The Emotions (Flowers, including I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love). Their mix of funky rhythms and classy arrangements proving irresistible to the record buying audience of the time. Free, from Williams' Niecy set, draws you in with near mystical fender rhodes and her falsetto tones, before a strong mid-tempo rhythm begins. Much covered, never bettered - or equalled - it's every bit as breathtaking as Stepney's work on Riperton's Come To My Garden. Earth Wind & Fire returned to the studio for Spirit. Sadly for Stepney it would be the last time, he passed away before it was completed. It included Saturday Nite, their first British hit, and saw them begin to repeat their American success around the world. For Stepney Maurice and Larry Dunn wrote the title song, and the album also bears this inscription: "With every man, the departure of spirit must take place. It is a destiny that is inevitable. We, Earth Wind & Fire, were blessed to have had a gifted spirit work among us. He has now departed to the next plane. He left us with much beauty and inspiration for humanity to feed upon. The works in this album are dedicated to Brother Charles Stepney (1931-1976). May God embrace his spirit with love - Maurice White."

Without Stepney Earth Wind & Fire faced a difficult follow-up album, eventually producing All 'N' All. Along with That's The Way Of The World one of their most satisfying recordings. As Maurice fused disco elements with those classical arrangements, spiritual themes and EWF's ability to work a groove they proved a successful marriage. In the next few years creating the likes of Fantasy, Boogie Wonderland and The Emotions Best Of My Love. They weren't the only legacy Stepney left behind. On Chaka Khan's debut solo album in 1978 she re-recorded Love has Fallen On Me, producer Arif Mardin used Stepney's original arrangement and credited him with it on the sleeve. By this time Minnie Riperton's husband Richard Rudolph was a successful writer/producer in his own right. On albums like Teena Marie's Lady T, 1980, he produced extravagant ballads reminiscent of Come To My Garden alongside the disco classic Behind The Groove. Fittingly it bore a tribute to Minnie whose life was sadly claimed by breast cancer the year before.

In the last few years Nuyorican Soul's cover of I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun and the re-issue of Terry Callier's Cadet albums have caused a reappraisal of Stepney's work. Enough to see his name on the cover. As we all discover more of his inspirational work the point is not 'why' but 'why has it taken so long'.

1 Minnie Riperton - Come To My Garden (Re-issue CD available as Japanese import, now re-issued on vinyl)
2 Rotary Connection - Songs/Hey Love (Re-issue CD 2 for 1 available in UK)
3 Terry Callier - What Color Is Love (Re-issue CD available in UK)
4 Earth Wind & Fire - That's The Way Of The World (Re-issue CD now available, includes demos and bonus tracks)

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