“Thanks” by Earth, Wind & Fire. “Occasional Rain” by Terry Carrier. ‘Come to My Garden’ by Minnie Riperton. All three albums featured a brilliant sound that blended elements of classical, psychedelic and soul. All three took the creators in new creative directions. All three of his songs featured the vibraphonist, but he became Charles his stepney, one of the most underrated producers of his time.
Stepney is best known for in-house producing and arranging for Chess Records, a Chicago label that pioneered early forays into rock and roll with a spotlight on blues musicians. Working behind the scenes with artists like Muddy Waters, Ramsey Lewis, Deniece Williams, and The Dells throughout the 1960s and his 70s, he wasn’t exactly a household name. But those in the know knew.
“It was emotion and creativity behind what he did,” Williams said in an interview. “He was very special in his sound and release. He was like no one else.”
However, Stepney’s career was short-lived. He died in 1976 at the age of 45, but his music lived on and spread through samples by artists such as: tribe called quest, Kanye West When Solange — until now, he hasn’t been the focus of any Deep Dive releases. Last Friday, Chicago-based label International Anthem released Step on Step, a collection of demos and experimental music Stepney has created for himself. The set features anecdotes of his three daughters, Eibur, Charlene and Chanté, plus sporadic studio chats, plus Stepney’s meticulous recording behind the scenes of his process. can catch a glimpse of
“‘Dad wrote it? We were like, ‘Yeah, he wrote it,'” Charlene said with a laugh during a recent video call. “
The Stepney sisters described their father as a hard worker, strict yet fair, with a restless and creative mind that kept him constantly intrigued. I remembered Even if he was busy in the studio, he could come and hang out between the instruments in the basement as long as it was quiet. “He didn’t always work on his one song,” said Charlene. “If he got stuck, he would stand it up, label it, breathe it in, and come back later.”
These tracks, which Stepney worked on alone, differ from the collaborations that helped make his name. “Gimme Some Sugar,” “Daddy’s Diddies,” and “Gotta Dig It to Dig It” lean toward electronic funk, while “Imagination,” “That’s the Way of the World,” and “On Your Face” are famous. An early version of the song. The Earth, Wind & Fire song — featuring spacey synths and canned drums, is a far cry from the band’s huge, brassy sound. The six-minute “Look B4U Leap” melds rhythmic percussion with vibrant electrics, while “Denim Groove” is a melodic mix of jazz and samba that kicks off his hip-hop culture in the not-too-distant future. Sounds dialed in from . Early 1980’s.
Stepney began studying music theory at Wilson Junior College in Chicago and began his career playing the piano and vibraphone in the mid-1950s. He’s nearly out of business, his flat is broken, he’s frustrated that clubs on the city’s north side are white and don’t book jazz, and he’s frustrated that venues on the south side don’t pay decent wages. , sold the vibraphone, and got a regular job. “I was broke and convinced that I could not succeed in this field.” he told Downbeat in 1970“I’d like to be a shoe salesman or a bookkeeper or something.”
The day Stepney was about to deliver his large instrument to a potential buyer, Chess arranger Phil Wright called him and asked him to do a recording session at the label’s studio. Stepney made such an impression on them that he kept getting called back to work, eventually becoming the label’s lead his seat his writer. In 1967, Marshall, the son of the founder of the label His Chess, tasked him with an ambitious project. Psychedelic Soul He helped create the group, Rotary He Connections, while White He Rock took the bones of his band and added voices like upstart Riperton (who was the first to join). label as a receptionist) and singer-songwriter Sidney Barnes.
The group was experimental, Stepney being a jovial chemist, mixing gospel, strings and soulful grooves with unexpected jarring sounds and wordless atmospheric interludes. With a range of four and a half octaves, Riperton was the definite star of the outfit, and three years later Stepney produced and arranged her gorgeous debut album.
Williams was introduced to Stepney through the ambitious sound of Rotary Connection. “I was her 16 and her neighbor came running over with this LP of hers,” she said. There was a feeling you got from his arrangement. Not only did you hear it Felt that. “She recalled that while working on her 1976 debut, ‘If You Don’t Believe,’ ‘Charles lifted the piano head and began strumming the strings with a guitar pick. rice field. “I was there with my mouth open and I was like, ‘Who else would do that?'”
Stepney’s schedule was grueling and his health deteriorated. He finds out he is diabetic, and then has a heart attack at the home of record company executive Clarence Avant. His eldest daughter, her Eibur, said, “I told her, ‘I’ve done everything I’ve ever wanted to do, but what I really want to do is my album.'” The “Spirit of Fire” – Charlene said she completed her chart while in the hospital – just before her second fatal heart attack.
Stepney, with the help of International Anthem co-founder Scotty McNeice, spent decades sitting with her sisters for 90 reels of unreleased solo material before it was finally transcribed. left. “Stepney’s story is such a unique Chicagoan,” he wrote in an email. was a true, craft-focused, working artist.”
“Step On Step” is a 78-minute set that traverses the vast spectrum of Stepney’s creative affinities. It’s a legacy of love. It’s a legacy of passion,” said his youngest daughter Shante. “He was underrated and unknown, but he was great.”