A formidable arranger, producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Charles Stepney was a crucial force behind landmark recordings by artists like the Dells and Earth, Wind & Fire, as well as artistic Chicago soul acts ranging from Rotary Connection to Terry Callier. Following early productions like Ramsey Lewis' Maiden Voyage and Minnie Riperton's Come to My Garden, Stepney garnered creative and commercial success helming classic Earth, Wind & Fire albums, including Open Our Eyes, That's the Way of the World, and Spirit. Though he died tragically at age 45, Stepney's work had a lasting impact, influencing generations of hip-hop and R&B performers and getting sampled by artists like A Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees, Madlib, Gorillaz, and others. Though he never released a proper solo album, Stepney's previously unheard home recordings were compiled by International Anthem on 2022's Step on Step.