COMMUNITY PROFILE EARTH, WIND & FIRE’S PHILIP BAILEY RETURNS HOME WITH PURPOSE AND UNITY PHOTO COURTESY OF MUSIC IS UNITY STORY BY YVENS ALEX SAINTIL EARTH, WIND & FIRE has shaped music for over 50 years, and few names are as familiar as that of Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and percussionist Philip Bailey. One of the founders of the group, the Denver-born musician has already cemented his legacy in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yet, his sense of purpose continues to evolve well beyond the stage, having a significant impact on his hometown through his nonprofit, Music Is Unity. “The first thing that comes to mind,” Bailey recalled, flashing a “Park Hill” embroidered ballcap, “is playing at the club called 23rd Street East. We were too young to even be in there, but they let us go from the stage straight to the office in the back — that was the rule,” he laughed. “Of course, we broke that rule a lot.” Back then, Bailey said, Denver was full of bands, live venues, and opportunities for young musicians to hone their craft. “There were a lot of places to play, and so there were a lot of bands and a lot of competition,” he said. “That’s where we cut our teeth: in school choirs, local gigs, and community socials. It gave us a sense of belonging.” Community, he explained, was built on what he calls “healthy rivalry,” where artists constantly challenge each other to grow. “Players would jump from band to band,” Bailey said. “The best of several bands might make a new one. You always had this feeling of community, and everyone was inspiring each other.” Today, after more than 50 years in the music industry, Bailey still speaks of Denver with deep affection. “Coming home now, it’s pure joy,” he said. “I could never have thought I’d still be doing this at the level we’re doing it. When I come home, I hang out with old friends. It’s no agenda, just realness.” Denver, he admits, has undergone dramatic changes since his youth. “We used to call her a one-horse town,” he joked. “Now it has its own electricity, its own culture and style. The demographics have changed, but it’s still a beautiful place to have been raised in and to come back to.” “ WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOMELESSNESS AND INCARCERATION RATES, SO MANY COME FROM FOSTER BACKGROUNDS. THAT’S WHERE THE SYSTEM HAS ABANDONED THEM.” MUSIC IS UNITY: PURPOSE IN ACTION Bailey’s foundation, Music Is Unity, co-founded with his daughter Trinity, channels his success toward a mission close to his heart: supporting foster youth, especially those aging out of the system. “I was raised by a single mother with my sister,” he said. “Even though our family was small, I had them, and I had support. I can’t imagine not having that. Many foster youths end up in difficult situations through no fault of their own. When they age out, many have no one to rely on.” Bailey learned early that the foster system was one of the most underserved populations in the country. “Hundreds of thousands age out every year,” he said. “I’ve heard horror stories of kids being handed their belongings in trash bags.” “When you look at homelessness and incarceration rates, so many come from foster backgrounds. That’s where the system has abandoned them.” Through Music Is Unity, a portion of concert ticket proceeds support organizations that provide essential resources to foster youth. One of the foundation’s signature programs, Backstage Soundcheck, invites youth to Earth, Wind & Fire concerts for an inside look at the production process. “We introduce them to all the different facets of touring — sound, lighting, stage management — in hopes that it piques their interest and shows them what’s possible,” Bailey said. Working with Elevating Connections, a Colorado-based nonprofit that serves foster youth, deepens that connection locally. “They do amazing work,” Bailey said. “They’re constantly showing up for young people and making sure they’re seen and supported.” And to Bailey, being seen is everything. “These young folks need to be seen,” he emphasized. “They need to know they are valued, that someone is in the fight with them, and that their cause matters.” LEGACY AND UNITY For Bailey, unity isn’t just the title of his foundation: it’s a philosophy that has evolved through a lifetime of global touring and human connection. “After traveling the world for over 50 years, one thing has become clear,” he reflected. “We are all more alike than we are different. People just need to feel valued and important, and it’s up to us, individually and collectively, to make that happen.” If he could speak directly to a young person aging out of foster care, Bailey’s message would be simple: “Music Is Unity sees you. We support you. We’re championing your cause to help you flourish and make your dreams come true.” For Denver’s next generation of artists, Bailey’s story is a reminder that greatness can grow anywhere, even from a “one-horse town.” “When I came up,” Bailey said, “there were no real lanes to get from Denver to where I am now. But today, this city has become one of the nation’s major cultural hubs. You don’t have to move away to realize your dreams.” As Bailey continues to tour, record, and give back, his message to his hometown remains grounded in gratitude: “People matter. Community matters. ‘Unity Matters.’” In honor of National Adoption Month, Music Is Unity is matching donations. 12 DENVER VOICE December 2025
13 Publizr Home