E-mail a friendSeptember 28, 2005
Tavis talks with Dan Glickman, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, and Earth Wind & Fire's Verdine White, Philip Bailey and Ralph Johnson.
Philip Bailey
Philip Bailey
With his four-octave range, Philip Bailey is best known as the lead vocalist of the supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire. He's also had a successful solo career, with pop and gospel recordings to his credit. As a teen in Denver, Bailey pursued his dream of being a percussionist. He played in the high school jazz band and was also in the school choir. In college, playing in a band at local clubs, he met the then-fledgling EWF. He later reconnected with them and was invited to help rebuild what would become the legendary band.
Ralph Johnson
Ralph Johnson
Ralph Johnson has performed with the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire for more than 30 years. As a child, the California native played drums and dreamed of playing in the Forum arena. While honing his skills with a local showcase, he impressed Maurice and Verdine White and later received a follow-up call that would chart his course for years to come. During an EWF hiatus, Johnson worked with Motown and produced the Temptations hit, "Treat Her Like A Lady.' He's also produced and performed on several artists compilations.
Dan Glickman
Dan Glickman
Before becoming CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America in '04, Dan Glickman was director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. A political powerhouse, he previously served as Secretary of Agriculture in the Clinton administration and represented his native Kansas in Congress for 18 years. He's a lawyer by training and also worked as a trial attorney at the SEC. Glickman serves on several boards, including America's Second Harvest and Communities in Schools.
Verdine White
Verdine White
Verdine White is a founding member and the energetic bassist of the Grammy-winning group Earth, Wind & Fire. At age 19, the classically-trained musician was persuaded by his older brother, Maurice, to leave Chicago - for the first time - to come to Los Angeles and help put together a musical group. The end result was an ambitious band that defied boundaries of color and categorization. White has also produced other artists and directed videos. The legendary EWF recently released its 23rd career album, 'Illumination.'