Stepney’s funkier sensibilities take center stage on “Look B4U Leap” – a track that showcases basslines from the low notes on a Fender Rhodes – which he composed and produced at home, in his basement, on the Southside of Chicago, sometime in the late 1960s. Based on the tapes and information we have - this track was likely a compositional sketch he made while simultaneously composing songs for Minnie Riperton and Ramsey Lewis. The digital cover art for this single is an old photo of Charles with his daughter Charlene. Charlene chose the title for this song, saying that "look before you leap" were words she saw written in a notebook at her Aunt (and Kindergarten teacher) Rose Johnson's home. Rose Johnson occasionally wrote lyrics for Charles Stepney's music, including "Completeness" for Minnie Riperton's Stepney-produced debut album 'Come To My Garden'.

This is an absolutely epic, iconic moment in music history here: the first ever unveiling of the original, home-recorded compositional demo of “That’s The Way of The World.” The eventual studio version of this song, which was produced and arranged by Stepney for the Earth, Wind & Fire album of the same name, would become one of the biggest recordings ever released by that band. This original 4-track demo version offers us an unprecedented look into the creative process of Charles Stepney as he drafted and crafted beautiful, soulful melodies, intuitively, from his fingertips to an eventual platinum record, like a true legend.

Together with his wife Rubie, Charles Stepney brought three daughters into the world - Eibur, Charlene, and Chanté. Eibur (whose first name is “Rubie” spelled backwards) says that her father used to rely on their mother Rubie for her intuitiveness (when he was faced with a difficult decision, he would often ask her: “Rubie, is God telling you anything?”). The depth of trust and faith that is only possible in the purest and truest of love/life partnership can be heard emanating from the sweet melodies of this tune. It was an unnamed track from the basement tapes Stepney left behind. But Stepney’s daughters chose to name it, appropriately, “Rubie & Charles.”

This is the original, compositional demo of “Black Gold.” Stepney would first produce and arrange a proper studio version of this song at Chess Records’s Ter Mar studios in Chicago, for the 1969 debut album of legendary guitarist Phil Upchurch. And later, in the early 1970s, he would re-arrange the tune with lyrics written by Richard Rudolph, for The New Rotary Connection featuring Minnie Riperton, under the new title: “I Am The Black Gold of the Sun.” Rotary Connection’s version of this song is possibly one of Stepney’s greatest known works – it’s a multi-faceted, orchestral arrangement of epic proportions – which makes it all the more incredible that we are able to share this bare bones demo version of the song, where Stepney’s creative compositional process can be heard in it’s most intuitive state, as he tinkers with piano, acoustic guitar, and bass, over a skittering hi-hat loop.

All posted via Charles Stepney’s artist profile, with dedicated social media posts pointing to playlist from International Anthem, Stepney, and Stepney family platforms. Plus an ad buy pointing to the most organically popular of the playlists, coordinated by International Anthem and serviced via all accounts.

Playlist #1: CHARLES STEPNEY - THE ARRANGER - posting late June / early July
Playlist #2: CHARLES STEPNEY - THE PRODUCER - posting late July / early August
Playlist #3: CHARLES STEPNEY - THE COMPOSER - posting late August / early September
Playlist #4: CHARLES STEPNEY - THE SAMPLES - posting late September / early October

See tracklists

The Guardian feature confirmed, written by Alex Petridis, est. publish date: July TBD
New York Times feature confirmed, written by Marcus J Moore, est. publish date: September
Chicago Reader feature confirmed, written by Ayana Contreras, est. publish date: August

Directed by filmmaker Brian Ashby (The Area, Scrappers, Hairy Who & The Chicago Imagists), released one per months starting in June, goin through September. Videos available for DSPs if possible/interested.

Rotary Connection 222 is a new large ensemble created by Junius Paul in collaboration with The Stepney Family, featuring Makaya McCraven (drums), Jackson Shepard (guitar), Alexis Lombre (keys), Meagan McNeal (vocals), and Stepney’s granddaughter Brandice Manuel (vocals).

Across several “Summer of Stepney” events, Rotary Connection 222 will grow to include 24 total musicians performing new interpretations of Stepney’s signature sound, with new arrangements written by De’Sean Jones and Jeff Parker.

MAY-SEPT, 2022

• MAY 29 - Summer of Stepney Launch Party at The Hideout, Chicago

• JUNE 18 - Father's Day Celebration with Ayana Contreras & Rotary Connection 222 at Kenwood Gardens, Chicago

• JULY 23 - Stepney Discography DJ sets / celebration at Dusty Groove, Chicago

• AUGUST 13 - Rotary Connection 222 at Bud Biliken Day Parade, Chicago

• AUGUST 18 - Rotary Connection 222 performs at Millennium Park Summer Music Series, Chicago

• SEPTEMBER 9 - Worldwide Stepney Discography DJ sets / celebrations, live streaming from record stores and event spaces via International Anthem's Bandcamp page and social media platforms (let us know if you want to get involved!)

Full list of happenings can be found at www.summerofstepney.com

Produced by Ayana Contreras as part of our International Anthem Podcast, which is distributed to podcast platforms via Anchor, at least one episode about Charles Stepney and Step on Step, est. release date September/October

Six major ad buys planned between June and September, at least $500 for each, across social media platforms and youtube.

Planned focuses for ad campaigns will be:

• (1) vinyl pre-order link tree for independent record stores;

• (2) one of the documentary webisodes (point to link tree of DSPs where video is available);

• (3) one of the curated DSP playlists (point to link tree of participating DSPs);

• (4) the full album on DSPs (link tree of all DSPs);

• (5) the Stepney podcast episode (point to link tree of podcast platforms where episode is available); and

• (6) product shots of vinyl package (point to link tree of independent record stores where purchase available).

Also participating in AIMS and CIMS for physical retail marketing. Open to ideas for other places to put our ad budget, please get in touch if you have something!