Philip Bailey (born May 8, 1951, Denver, Colorado) is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, best known as one of the longtime members of Earth, Wind & Fire. Together with Verdine White and Ralph Johnson he forms the heart of the current EWF line-up on stage. Before joining Earth, Wind & Fire in 1971, Bailey sang with different ensembles in the Denver and Chicago area. Bailey found fame by sharing the lead vocals on EWF songs with EWF-founder Maurice White.