Charles Stepney

American vibraphonist, pianist, arranger, producer and songwriter, most famous as the producer behind Rotary Connection and as producer for Earth, Wind & Fire and a number of releases on Chess / Cadet. Played (and recorded) with Minnie Riperton, The Soulful Strings, Ramsey Lewis, Eddie Harris, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Phil Upchurch, Terry Callier, The Dells, The Emotions and many others. Born : March 26, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. Died : May 17, 1976 in Chicago, Illinois (aged 45, from heart failure).