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Loading... Shining Star: Braving the Elements of Earth, Wind & Fire (2014)by Philip Bailey
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Shining Star was a quick read - kind of interesting insider look at the music industry without dishing on everyone. Bailey was respectful of other EWF members and still represented his point of view about what went wrong with the band and why they broke up. Bottom line - don't look to other people to protect your interests and don't burn your bridges. I liked the music better than the book. no reviews | add a review
A personal account by the lead singer of Earth, Wind & Fire traces his professional and spiritual journey against a backdrop of the group's meteoric rise to stardom, describing the diverse influences that shaped the band's style and his own experiences as a solo performer. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)782.42164092The arts Music Vocal music Secular Forms of vocal music Secular songs General principles and musical forms Song genres Western popular songsLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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It is strange to see how history of music ends up focusing on certain songs from musical groups. Of the many songs by Depeche Mode, they are most known for “Enjoy the Silence” and “Personal Jesus.” Most fans could list 20 other songs just as much appreciated. EWF are known today for “Boogie Wonderland” “September”, and “Shining Star”. They have others which are equally memorable but newer music has edged out their other hits. Bailey mentions how Michael Jackson took over music in the 1980s, not by doing concerts (the way EWF owned the large, staged arenas) but by music videos which expended enormous amounts on production costs to create. EWF put their money into elaborate stages, costumes, and large horn sections. Bailey says it was White’s decision to do that, but he was satisfied with White’s direction at the time. This book is badly organized but still worth reading. Most memoirs by musicians are some of the best books in my personal library. This book by Bailey was difficult to get through (even at 235 pages) but worth reading for the second half. Bailey is from Denver, Colorado but lived in Los Angeles for many years (Culver City, West LA). I have seen EWF at The Forum, Los Angeles, and more recently in San Bernadino with Chicago which Bailey talks about in the book. Whenever The Showtime Lakers are depicted in books or movies they usually show EWF or play excerpts of their music for the soundtrack.
Index, B&W Photos, No Discography. ( )