McCartney, Paul, 239, 311
McCoys, 66
McDonald, Clarence, 198, 218
McGraw, John, 213, 234
MC Hammer, 330
McIan, Peter, 300
McKay, Albert Philip, 122–26, 128, 139, 150, 160, 166, 172–73, 192, 195, 198, 201, 218, 232, 246, 248, 257–58, 277, 280–84, 310–12, 320, 348
McKinley, Fred, 270
McMahon, Gerard, 300
McNally, Larry John, 300
McNichol, Kristy and Jimmy, 260–61
Memphis Commercial Appeal, 21
Mendes, Sérgio, 51
Mercury Records, 198
Meyers, Bill, 287, 289, 320, 352
Midnight Special, The (TV show), 181
“Mighty Mighty,” 84, 130, 148, 181, 349
Miles, Buddy, 92
Millennium, 36, 333, 337–39
Mills Brothers, 17
Miner, Raynard, 47, 54
Mitchell, Joni, 337
Modern Jazz Quartet, 51
“Moment of Truth,” 94
Monk, Thelonious, 24
“Monkey Time,” 52
Moonglows, 52
“Morning Has Broken,” 128
Motown, 45–47, 54, 90, 116, 123, 149
“Move On Up a Little Higher,” 8
Movie Album, The, 66
MTV, 292–94, 304, 315, 332
Muscular Dystrophy Association, 261
Music for UNICEF Concert, The (TV special), 261
music industry
decline of, 274–79, 298–300, 304, 311, 327, 333–34
payola and, 100, 274
racial divide in, 149, 248–49, 292–97, 319, 328–30
royalties and, 49
“My Funny Valentine,” 55
“My Love,” 286
Myrick, Don, 34, 38, 78, 161, 181–82, 191–92, 257, 288, 338
NAACP, 280
Hall of Fame Image Award, 347
Nagaoka, Shusei, 228–29
Nascimento, Milton, 222, 254
Nash, Johnny, 118
Natalie Cole Special (TV show), 240
Need of Love, The, 99–100
New Birth, 76, 124
Newton, Huey, 94
Newton-John, Olivia, 237, 261
new wave, 302, 304
Niggaz4Life, 327
“1999,” 315
1999, 315–16
Nirvana, 327
Nixon, Richard, 75, 116
Nobel Peace Prize Concert, 352
Noble, Ray, 37
N.W.A., 327
Obama, Barack, 352–53
Off the Wall, 293
Ohio Players, 76, 211
Okeh Records, 53
Olympics (Winter, 2002), 352
“On Your Face,” 209–10, 349
Open Our Eyes, 28, 138–42, 148–49, 204
“Open Our Eyes,” 141–42, 156, 349, 358
Operation Breadbasket Orchestra and Choir, 71–72
Orefice, Marilyn, 90–91, 103, 119, 242–43, 245, 269, 321
Osborne, Jeffrey, 252, 315
Ostin, Mo, 337
Otis, Johnny, 17
“Owner of a Lonely Heart,” 302
Page, Martin, 254, 303, 314, 316–17
Panasonic, 278–79
Parker, Charlie, 37, 75
Parks, Bert, 163
Parliament-Funkadelic, 211, 327
Pate, Johnny, 53, 54
Patillo, Leon, 188
“People Get Ready,” 54
People magazine, 211
Peters, Jerry, 198, 201–2, 246, 277, 300
Peters, Michael, 323
Peterson, Oscar, 70
Pharaohs, 182
Phenix Horns, 34, 181, 192, 288–89, 307
Philadelphia International Records, 118
Pieces of a Dream, 320
Pink Floyd, 311, 318
Pittman, Bob, 293
Platters, 52
Playing Near the Edge, 300
Pockets, 236, 300–301, 311
pop, 219, 248–49, 251, 284, 294, 302–3, 359
Porcaro, Jeff, 225
Porter, David, 14–17, 19, 26–27, 40, 83, 118, 122, 156
Porter Junior High School (Memphis), 17
“Power,” 119–20
Powerlight, 293, 297–98, 304–5, 333
Premier Talent, 180
Presley, Elvis, 123
Prince, 76, 219–20, 260, 290, 310, 315–16, 327, 331, 337
Prophet, The (Gibran), 5, 65, 122, 324
Purple Rain, 316
“Pushover,” 51
Q-Feel, 303
Quartet 4, 51–52, 66
racism, 11, 23, 27, 49, 68–69, 148, 292–94
radio, 24, 90, 279, 280
Raiders of the Lost Ark (film), 296
Raise!, 284, 286–87, 293, 296–97, 306, 313, 333
Ramsey Lewis Trio, 60–70, 74, 80–83, 354, 359. See also Lewis, Ramsey
“Rappers Delight,” 275
“Rapture,” 293
Rare Earth, 154
RCA Records, 52, 93–94
Reagan, Ronald, 280, 297, 303
“Real Thing, The,” 302
“Reasons,” 168–69, 173, 190–92, 240, 333, 338
Reichenbach, Bill, 288
Rejoice, 217–21
“Remember the Time,” 55
“Rescue Me,” 54
“Respect Yourself,” 116
Reverend Ike, 88
Reynolds, Sheldon, 321, 340
rhythm and blues (R&B), 47, 55–56, 219, 249, 251, 284, 287, 294, 302–4, 359
Richards, Keith, 293, 311
Richie, Lionel, 290, 315, 332
Riddle, Nelson, 297
Ripperton, Minnie, 138
Ritenour, Lee, 293
Roach, Max, 25, 70
Robinson, Edna, 9–10
Robinson, Elvira (stepmother) “Mama,” 6–9, 13–14, 16, 21–22, 24, 27–28, 63–64, 103, 142, 223, 255, 296, 353–54
Robinson, Jackie, 25
Robinson, Smokey, 47, 255
Robinson, Tuck, 9
rock, 130, 248, 251
Rock & Rule (animated film), 297
rockabilly, 23
rock-and-roll, 17, 23
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1–2, 347–48
“Rock of Ages,” 8
Rockwell, Norman, 80
Rogers, D. J., 198, 245–46, 300
Rolling Stones, 134, 180, 260, 297, 311
Ronstadt, Linda, 297
Roots (TV miniseries), 301
Rose Hill Baptist Church (Memphis), 9, 15, 74, 142, 351, 354
Rotary Connection, 138
Roundtree, Richard, 93
Rubber Soul, 47
Ruffalo, Joe, 180, 224, 308–10, 315
Rumors, 279
“Runnin’,” 225, 260
Rush, 318
Russell, Bill, 93
Russell, Brenda, 277
Saggifire Music, 178
Salongo, 198
Salty Peppers, 79
Sam & Dave, 40
Sanders, Pharoah, 128
Santana, 117, 119, 149–50, 184–90, 192
Santana, Carlos, 128, 184–85
Satterfield, Louis, 34, 38–39, 45, 48, 52, 56, 71, 78, 181–82, 186, 288, 351–52
Saturday Night Fever (sound track), 237
“Saturday Nite,” 210, 240, 349
“Save the Best for Last,” 338
“Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud,” 75
Scarborough, Skip, 116, 193, 216–18, 252
Scheidbach, Frank, 152, 170–71, 185, 211–13, 233–34, 241
Schultz, Michael, 239, 292
Scott, Sherry, 87, 99, 102, 133
Seale, Bobby, 94
Seals and Crofts, 154
Sebastian, John, 114
Secret Life of Plants, 279
“Secret Love,” 55
Seeff, Norman, 177
Seeger, Pete, 116
“See the Light,” 166, 17
3, 349, 354
“September,” 123, 246–48, 252, 260–61, 273, 292
“Serpentine Fire,” 228, 240, 253, 259–60, 279, 292, 349
Serrano, Paul, 52, 160, 203, 258
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (film), 237–40, 262
Shaft (film), 110
Shann, Richard, 24–25, 222
“Share Your Love,” 279, 349
“She Blinded Me with Science,” 302
“Shining Star,” 130, 166–67, 172–73, 181–82, 194, 199, 214, 287, 347, 349
Shirelles, 30
“Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss), The,” 43
Shore, Sig, 163, 171
Shorter, Wayne, 300
“Silly,” 198
Simon, Paul, 249
Simpson, Valerie, 237
Sims, Gerald, 45, 52
“Sing a Song,” 192–94, 199, 246, 349
Sisto, Dick, 51
“Sittin’ in the Park,” 55
Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (Birmingham), 42
Skin Game (film), 95
Sky Island, 331
Slaughter, Jim, 52–53
Sly and the Family Stone, 75–76, 89, 120, 150, 154–55, 172, 187. See also Stone, Sly
Smith, Carl, 54
Smith, Joe, 94, 114
Smith, Leonard “Bafa,” 101, 111–13, 120, 126, 133, 155, 170–71, 179, 243, 262, 281, 295
Smith, Tyrone, 19
Smith, Will, 298
“Soft and Wet,” 220
Song Bird, 221
Songs in the Key of Life, 211, 279
Songwriters Hall of Fame, 337
Sony Music Entertainment, 321
soul, ix, 23, 47, 55–56, 82–83, 106, 123, 130, 132, 138, 149, 182, 204, 228, 248, 359
Soul! (TV show), 127–28, 134
“Soul Man,” 40
Soul Train (TV show), 309, 329
“Sound of the Genuine, The” (Thurman), 80
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), 71
Spaniels, 19, 42
“Spasmodic Movements,” 140
spectrum music, 248, 251
Spielberg, Steven, 226
Spinners, 231
Spirit, 136, 199–205, 209–14, 230, 357–58
“Spirit,” 202–3
Springsteen, Bruce, 275
“Stand by Me,” 317–19
Standing in the Light, 312
Staples, Mavis, 219
Staple Singers, 116
“Star,” 260
Starr, Ringo, 119
Stax Records, 40, 98, 118, 123
“Stay in My Corner,” 71
Steele, Jevetta, 331
Steely Dan, 318, 337
Stepney, Charles, 137–41, 164–65, 172, 175, 192–98, 200–205, 209, 214, 252, 254, 258
Stepney, Rubie, 201–3
“Steppin’ Out,” 302
Stevens, Cat, 128
Stewart, Billy, 54–55
Stewart, Rod, 153, 187, 236, 260–62
Stigwood, Robert, 237, 262
Stone, Sly, 75–76, 80, 105, 123, 149, 155, 214, 327
Stovall Sisters, 105
“Straight from the Heart,” 333
Streisand, Barbra, 313–15
Strength to Love (King), 163
Strode, Muriel, 87
Stylistics, 106
Styx, 236
Sufi Message, The (Inayat Khan), 143
Summer, Donna, 228, 261
“Summertime,” 55
“Sunday Morning,” 338
“Sun Goddess” 161–62, 165, 182, 198, 338
Sun Goddess, 161–62
“Sunshine,” 192
Super Bowl (2005), 352
Super Fly (sound track), 52, 163
“Superfreak,” 292
Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassss Song (film), 97
“System of Survival,” 322, 330
“Take It to the Sky,” 42, 349
Talking Heads, 337
Tamburro, Joe, 133
tango, 228
Taoism, 74, 78, 143
Tapestry, 90
Taylor, Bernard “Beloyd,” 198, 200, 254, 284–86, 289, 300
Taylor, James, 128, 249, 275, 337
Temple, Herb, 70
Temptations, 76, 106, 231, 312
Terry, Bill, 51, 66
Tex, Joe, 55
“That’s the Way of the World,” ix, 138, 174–75, 203, 240, 261, 349
That’s the Way of the World (sound track and film), ix, 16, 163–69, 171–77, 181–83, 191–92, 199–200, 204, 211–12, 221, 354
“Things Can Only Get Better,” 302
This Is Niecy, 197
“This World Is a Masquerade,” ix, 147
“This World Today,” 94
Thomas, Alex, 92
Thomas, Rufus, 24
Thompkins, Russell, Jr., 106
Thompson, Sonny, 45
Thriller, 293, 323
Thurman, Howard, 80
Till, Emmet, 69
“Time Machine,” 314
Today Show (TV show), 182, 330
“Too Much Heaven,” 237
“Tossin’ and Turnin’,” 30
Toto, 225
Touch the World, 320–23, 333
“Touch the World,” 321–22, 349
Tower of Babel, 163
Trammps, 258
Travolta, John, 237
“Treat Her Like a Lady,” 312
Truly for You, 312
Tubes, 297
Turner, Big Joe, 19
“Turn It into Something Good,” 123, 279, 347, 349
“Turn Your Love Around,” 302
Tusk, 279
20/20 (TV show), 278–79
“Twist,” 26
Tyner, McCoy, 183
Unbelievable, 55
UNICEF, 261–62
Unity of Religious Ideals, The (Inayat Khan), 143
Universal Recording, 52, 78
Upchurch, Phil, 78
Up Pops Ramsey, 72
Urban Knights, 331
Urban Knights II, 331
Uriah Heep, 133–34, 187
USA Today, 350
Vandross, Luther, 316
Vannelli, Ross, 277
Van Peebles, Melvin, 97–98
Vaughan, Sarah, 37
Vaughn, Carla, 262
Vaughn, Wayne, 254, 286–87, 298
Vee-Jay Records, 42–43, 80, 299
Video Soul (TV show), 292
Vietnam War, 43, 70, 75, 98, 116
Village People, 228
Voice of the Master, The (Gibran), 65
Wade, Theo, 24
Wade in the Water, 64, 66
“Wade in the Water,” 64, 359
Wainwright, Loudon, 118
“Wait,” 260
Walsh, Brock, 338
“Wanna Be with You,” 286–87
“Want Ads,” 269
War, 76, 107, 155–56, 211
Warner Bros., 93–100, 104–6, 109–11, 114, 116–18, 129, 219–20, 331, 337–38
Warren, Ellene, 243, 336
Washington, Booker T., 292
Washington, Chester “Chet,” 92
Washington, Grover, Jr., 331
Washington, Tom “Tom-Tom,” 38, 201, 248, 254, 258, 289
Waters, Muddy, 209, 358
Waters, Roger, 311
Wattstax (concert and film), 123
WDAS (radio station), 108, 133
WDIA (radio station), 24
Weather Report, 88, 128, 184, 245, 300
Weathers, Barbara, 331
Weeks, Willie, 154
Weisner, Ron, 323
Wells, Reverend Oliver, 321
“We’ll Understand It Better By and By,” 8
“We’re Living in Our Own Time,” 333
What’s Going On, 116, 165
WHBQ (radio station), 24
“When I Dream,” 314
“Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,” 116
White, Eden (son), 336–37
Wh
ite, Fred Adams (brother), 56–58, 78–79, 150–52, 154, 172, 186–87, 221, 252–53, 269, 290–91, 321, 348
White, Geri Adams (sister), 15, 178–79, 269
White, Hemeya “Mimi” (daughter), 158, 176, 245, 336
White, John (birth father), 5–6
White, Kahbran (son), 245, 269, 321, 336
White, Maurice. See also Earth, Wind & Fire; and specific songs and albums
ARC and, 245–48, 298–302, 305
astrology and, 65, 74, 76–78, 143
bicycle from “Dad” and, 15, 33, 73
birth of daughter Hemeya “Mimi,” 158, 245
birth of son Eden, 336
birth of son Kahbran, 245
brother Fred and, 56–58, 290
brother Verdine and, 320, 322
business restructuring and, 178–79, 194
Carmel compound and, 221, 245, 262, 269, 296, 320–21
Chess Records and, 45–50, 52, 54–57
childhood in Memphis and, 5–17, 354
childhood visits to Arkansas, 10–12
childhood visit to Chicago, 15
commercial ventures of, 59–60, 70–71
death of, 357, 360
death of Charles Stepney and, 201–5, 209
death of “Dad” (Dr. Verdine Adams) and, 351
death of Don Myrick and, 338
death of Louis Satterfield and, 351–52
death of “Mama” (Elvira Robinson) and, 28
death of “Mother Dear” (Edna Parker Adams) and, 262, 269–72, 275–76
decides to pursue music career, 35–38
diet and health and, 65–66, 75, 90, 113, 131, 211–12, 221
Down Homers and, 71
draft and, 43–44
drumming and, 17–20, 22, 25, 33, 47–48, 70
early gigs and, 20–22, 38–43, 51
early love of music and, 8–9, 14–26
early paper delivery job, 21–22
education of, as youth, 17–19
education of, at Chicago Conservatory of Music, 52–53
education of, at Crane Junior College, 33, 37–38
EW&F comeback and, 320–23
EW&F created by, 80–84, 87–101
EW&F disbanded by, 307–12
EW&F early split and, 102–3
EW&F relaunched by, 103–21
EW&F White House performances and, 352–53
failures of early 1980s and, 305
family and, 73, 270–72
fatherhood and, 158–59, 336–37
finances and, 323, 333–35
fires Al McKay, 281–84
friendship with Booker T. Jones, 18–19, 24–27, 29
Hollywood Bowl appearance and, 355–56
Hollywood fame game and, 331–32
Hot Feet show and, 352
identity and, 350–51
influences on, 25–26, 34–36, 75–76
Jazzmen and, 38
last performance with EW&F at Grammy Awards, 352
leadership style of, 102–3, 252–56, 277, 281, 306–8, 311