December 10, 2024 • 29 mins
Today's special guests are Phillip Bailey ,lead singer for the iconic group Earth Wind and Fire, and singer , songwriter Dreion. Both join Host Ramses Ja to talk about the Music is Unity Foundation and its work to support Foster Care children.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Meet two powerful advocates for foster youth, Philip Bailey, the
iconic Earth Wind and Fire vocalist and founder of the
Music Is Unity Foundation, and Dreon, a talented contested on
the Voice and a former foster youth. Philip Bailey and
his daughter Trinity found in Music Is Unity Foundation. Their
organization is a leading nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth aging
(00:23):
out of the US foster care system to offer supportive
services to the over twenty three thousand youth who are
emancipated from the US foster care system each year. In
My Youth's mission becomes even more relevant this month as
they ramp up fundraising and awareness efforts during National Adoption Month.
Joining us today are Philip Bailey of Earth Wind and
(00:44):
Fire and Dreon from The Voice. This is the Black
Information Network Daily podcast and I'm your host ramses Jah.
All right, you two, welcome to the show. How are
you doing today? I We'll start with you, Philip.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Bailey, ramses thank you very much for having this. This
is a great opportunity. Love you love your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
We appreciate it. Yeah, thank you, thank you. Drean man,
talk to me, what's the latest?
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Hey man, I'm doing great, doing really really good. This
is the honor to be here, you know, with you
as well, and with p B. Always it's always great
to be here supporting foster youth. Uh you know, just
got back from Africa, you know, doing some work down there,
and so it's a it's an honor to to continue
to work here in America as well.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Okay, all right, I appreciate that, man.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
And you know, one of the things that we do
for our listeners here is we we try to start
our stories at the beginning. So obviously you two are
well known individuals, but for folks that might not be
intimately familiar, tell us a little bit about yourselves, give
us a little bit of background, maybe where you grew up,
(01:52):
where you went to school, that sort of thing, and
just kind of give a little bit more than the
introduction would suggest for the benefit of people just coming
to the conversation.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Philip, let's start with you.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
You know, talk to us about, you know, a little
bit of your background and lead us up to sort
of what put this on your heart to start the
music as Unity Foundation.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Okay, well, you know, obviously I'm the lead singer with
Earth Wind and Fire for over fifty years. I'm from Denver, Colorado,
and grew up there playing music through college and playing
in bands and groups and all that stuff, and later
(02:33):
became a member of the of the band of Earth
Winding Fire in the early seventies. And you know, I,
you know, I the rest is kind of is kind
of history. But in terms of foster youth, I'm a
father and grandfather seven and seven and I can't I
(03:01):
couldn't imagine any of my folks, uh trying to navigate
through the world without any support or anyone to turn to.
And UH, so you know, seventeen years ago, Trinity and
I began this foundation and call it music is Unity
(03:26):
to to uh to really address the the much needed
a cause of foster youth. And UH and for that reason,
you know, we you know going forward. You know, Dreian
can tell you how how we how we actually hooked up.
(03:48):
But we're in the We're in the fight to actually
promote foster youth and their and their challenges and and
their victories and and and we do we do a
thing we call our backstage soundcheck program. When we introduce
false use to the touring industry, I mean to our
(04:11):
touring entourage and uh, they meet the different aspects of
what makes us tick when we're out there on the road,
and hope if they want to do anything in that
in that field. But yeah, it's it's a it's an
ongoing thing that's with a lot of challenges, but a
(04:32):
lot of opportunities and a lot of joy. And UH,
we're very proud to be a part of it.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
I appreciate it. Drean.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
For those that don't know, obviously we want the same
from you, but make sure you give a little bit
of your backstory because I think that's obviously very special
and relevant to the conversation we're about to have.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
Well.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Absolutely, I'm actually I grew up in the state right
next door to to p B and in Nebraska, Omaha,
Nebraska is where I'm originally from.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
Uh where you know.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
UH.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
My music journey began as a little boy in church UH,
singing and and and playing uh and and not only church,
but in school, middle school UH or elementary, middle school,
high school, and where I also was in the foster
care system UH at the age of seven. I was
in there for a period of time, a short period
(05:26):
of time, but one of the most challenging parts of
my life still to this day, still something that is
very uh traumatic and and difficult for me to uh
relive and talk about. But it also is is the
strength of where you know, my advocacy and my in
my heart for the foster.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
Care community comes from, because I not only.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
You know, care about the foster youth in the community,
but I was. I was one of the foster youth
in that community. And so while I was in the
fossil Kist system, you know, the two things that I
always said that I always had was God of music.
Those were my two pillars and my two points of hope.
And so music became that that driving force God. God
(06:15):
became that faith and that hope that I needed to
be able to get to wherever I want to in music, uh,
and I was listening to to groups and bands like
Earthen and Fire and al Green and all of these
great groups that I love and artists that I love
because of my grandfather and him introducing me to that
incredible music. So I held on to a lot of
(06:36):
that music while in the foster Kist system and it
drove me to eventually going to Berkeley College of Music
in Boston, where I then became a big, you know, performer,
putting on shows and concerts all over Boston. And once
I graduated from Berkeley College of Music, I released my
(06:59):
first product and it was dedicated to falster care awareness
and telling my story about what happened took place in
the foster care system or when I was in the
foster care system.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
And I reached out to.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
An organization I called Mixed Roots Foundation just to you know,
just just to find a way to partner, you know,
I wanted to. I wanted to not only give back
to this community, but I wanted to find the community
that I belonged to because I knew that I could
be the only one in the world that went through
(07:32):
you know, these difficult things. I was in five different
foster homes, on several different behavior medications, you know, in
and out of psych words. I know I couldn't be
the only one to have gone through that tragic these
tragic events, and so I wanted to find that community.
And this was twenty twenty, in the middle of the pandemic,
(07:53):
and Mixed Routes happened to be partnering with Music is Unity,
and I had no idea that this was a foundation
that was founded by Philip Bailey, had no idea any
anybody had, you know, been involved that was a part
of you know, Earthen and Fire or anybody from the
industry at all. I was just reaching out for the
(08:14):
Foster Care cause and just to tell my story and
to hopefully inspire others. And we got on the first
call and you know, they were like, you know, we
want you to be a part of.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
Our Foster Challenge.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
And we did this big event to be able to
raise funds for foster Youth in twenty in twenty especially
you know, for emergency funds funding, because I mean that
was a challenging time for all of us, but especially
for foster youth who already are at the bottom of
a total pole, if if you will. So that's how
(08:46):
me and you know PB first connected and me and
Music Unity started our partnership and our relationship. It was
through that Foster Challenge, through my Foster Care story, and
through through my first project and from there, you know,
we build an incredible relationship.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
You know, he's talked about the backstage sound checking, you know,
working with the Foster Youth, raising funds, doing events and
then touring also with the band with earthen and fire
as an opening act advocating for foster care awareness and
showing foster youth that you know, you aren't You aren't
the situation that you were given, or you aren't the
(09:24):
situation you were born into. But it's what you make
out of it. And I definitely try to be that
that testament and that that that becon of light for
foster youth as well through Music is Unity and the
work that we do.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
You know, you know you mentioned that there's the picture
you paint is one where there are a lot of
pitfalls potentially for for foster youth. So I want to
lean into that. What are some of the pitfalls that
people who are just that, you know, maybe there's people
(09:58):
out there who their brain is dealing with one hundred
problems and they seldom spare a thought for foster youth
in the community. So let's talk to these listeners about
some of these pitfalls that they may be unaware of
when it comes to kids that are sort of aging
(10:18):
out of foster care. What sort of impact, So let's
talk about those pitfalls and then let's talk about what
sort of impact you're hoping to make with Music is Unity.
So let's keep going with you, Dreon, and then.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
PB, if I may, we'll circle back to you, mister Bailey.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
You know, one of the biggest pitfalls about foster youth
aging out of the system is the fact that they
don't have a point of reference or resource once they
are released from the system. It's almost like you are
released into this big world that you haven't even been
taught about on your own.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
And a lot of these youth don't are.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
Become homeless, they become uh, you know, uh into drugs,
they become they get into jail, they do things for survival,
and a lot of times ends them in places that
already stifle them and keep them from being able to
advance forward in life because they didn't even have a
(11:23):
chance from the beginning. And so one of the great
things I love about music is unity is the effort
to specifically help foster youth who are aging out of
the system with resources, with mentors, UH, with programs and
and and opportunities to be able to uh to plan
(11:45):
out their future before either making that transition or while
making that transition, so that there's another point of reference
in another direction. And that and that's the big thing,
you know, a lot of times, the system they just
they just there's twenty eight thousand plus emancipated foster youth
that are releasing to the world, if you will, every
(12:08):
single year, and there's not enough resources, there's not enough programs,
there's not enough planning for them because now they're technically adults,
but they also didn't have a childhood either. A lot
of them didn't have a lot of the resources or
the education or the opportunities that most youth get in
(12:31):
school and things, and so this community specifically needs the
resources and the help of a music is Unity and
many of the other partnering organizations and voices like mine,
other foster youth who are seeing these problems not being
dealt with, not being handled because they're kind of just
(12:52):
being thrown by the wayside, only because either youth a
lot of them don't have a voice.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
A lot of them.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Don't have people who are readily listening to them actively,
and so it's up to us to be able to
speak for them and to say, hey, listen, they need
more than just a you know, great job, go out
into the world to do you know, what you do best,
because they don't even know what they.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
Want to do. So I commend the work that Music
is Unity.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Does because because they give these foster youth a plan,
a light, and a direction that they can go.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
So anything to add there, uh.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Well, what you're gonna say, very very well, put the thing.
A portion of our proceeds the Earth Windy Fires ticket
sales go to Music is Unity. And then what we
do is we uh we provide funds to different organizations
(13:53):
who are are making it happen for foster use on
a daily for all the for for all the specific
needs that they would have from the very mind, you know,
very minute to the you know, school uh tuitions or
or hospitalizations or whatever, because it's everything that they need.
Speaker 6 (14:18):
It's not just one thing, it's it's it's everything.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
And you know, the the uh the attempt that we
that we have together is to to make it more
accessible to to the masses of you know, the needs
that they have. And uh, you know, they can go
to Music as Unity dot org and find out what.
Speaker 6 (14:41):
We're doing and and uh and.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Donate or get involved with your your your your local
foster agencies.
Speaker 6 (14:49):
But it's it's it's.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Really about making people aware that there's so many people
out there that uh, deserve your your your help and
your care.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
So I'm glad you mentioned that because November is National
Adoption Month, So speak a little bit about why this
month is, you know, criticalness is a critical time in
the year for raising awareness and funds and maybe a
little bit more about how people can get involved. So
so please continue, mister Bailey.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Well, of course, you know, the holiday season is a
great time for many, and it's a horrific time for
so many because you know, people find that that don't
have anyone to go to, or anyone to turn to,
or any kind of support system. You know, they find themselves,
(15:44):
you know, in a vacuum at this time of the year.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
And Dreion can can can uh, you know, explain more.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
But.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
You know it's these is this time of the year
that you know, we really wanted to uh make sure
that people on their on their shopping list that you
put foster Care as one of them.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Andreaan anything to add there, Yeah, I would love to
speak to that.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
You know.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
I love what PV said. You know, because this is
actually twenty years ago. This month would be the.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
The month that I was.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Reunited with my family right before the holidays, and it
is it's a very very important time of the year
for many people. You know, there's a lot of generosity
going on and people collecting you know, money for men
for many various different things. But when it comes to
(16:48):
foster youth, you know, as PB said, it's just it's
just the basic needs, you know, it's the little things
that that that really matter to these youth, from food
to just a place to call home, a place to
lay their head down, a place to be able to
to think, you know, to be able to enjoy Thanksgiving,
(17:09):
to enjoy Christmas uh and and a family to be
able to to do that with, which is you know,
the big important piece of National Adoption Month.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
I definitely feel and think that.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
This is so important for the masses to be involved
with because us as we go into the holiday season,
this is a very very crucial time as well, when
when suicide rates are high and people are in the
gloom because of the weather and because of the time
of year and the difficulties that come with it.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
And I think one of the biggest things that you
can do.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
For somebody is to not just you know, not just
give them a you know, keep going, not just give
them a you know, but help them in a way
that will uh set them up for success, set set
them on a trajectory that will put them on an
upward path. And I think that that's definitely what these
(18:11):
fossil youth need during this time and especially during Adoption
Awareness Month we're talking about. You know, sometimes it's not
just money, but it is your support, it is your
these families being a part of finding homes for these children.
If you can't do it yourself being a part of
(18:31):
or if you can give resources to somebody that might
be able to do it, or however you see fit,
I think it definitely this is the time and uh,
this is definitely the time of year that you can
make one of those youths. Uh, you can bake their year,
you can make their life change.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Joining us today are Philip Bailey of Earth Wind and
Fire and Dreon from The Voice discussing the music is
Unity Foundation. All Right, Drian, one of the things that
you've been able to do so far in this conversation
is really bring us into what it means to be
(19:11):
kind of at the ground level, what the experience is
like for foster kids.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
And I believe sort of what people.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
May not know about what that experience is like you
can kind of help fill in some of the gaps.
But one of the things that I really I think
there's still something here. Talk to us a little bit
about why music is so important at this sort of
(19:42):
critical transformative moment in a.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Foster kid's life.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Why is music so important and what is it that
you believe music can do in terms of helping people
transition from one phase to the next.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
Well, I can definitely speak for myself when it comes
to music. Music was was the thing that I couldn't
let loose.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
It was the thing that I couldn't shake.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
I was always tapping on something, I was always humming something,
I was always singing something, and so.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Music came it.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Well, it was already in my life, but it helped
me at a pivotal point in my life to understand
and know, Okay, I am not happy with the circumstance
and the life that I am in right now. You know,
I was taking away from my mother. I'm a little kid.
I don't know what's happening. I don't know if I
(20:41):
want to ever see my family again. I have no
idea what's going on, what's happening. I'm going from home
to home to home to home. I don't have much belongings.
I don't have much stuff. The only thing that I'm
carrying with me is my voice. And that was a
key thing for me. I couldn't I didn't have I
was carrying around my U and trash backs, you know.
(21:02):
But the one thing that never was lost was my
voice and my singing voice.
Speaker 5 (21:08):
My ability to to.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Create music in my head, my ability to be able
to uh, to imagine songs uh and and and.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
They come out of my body. You know.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
It It was it was a it was a it
was it.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Was a healing for me. It was a point of reference,
a hope for me.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
And it gave me a future because you know, now,
to be you know, to have tour with Earth When
and Fire and work with all the amazing artists that
I've worked with. To be on the voice right now,
working with Snoop Dogg is uh beyond the dreams of
the seven year old Drion that was in that Foster
care you know. But well, I was gonna say but that,
(21:53):
but that is That's what music did for me.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
It gave me a drive, It gave me a reason
and to push forward, to push through and to keep going.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Sure, that's that's exactly what I was thinking, because you know,
when I recall my my teenage years where I was
transitioning from a child into an adult, I knew how
important music was for me. And and you know, if
you think about it, it's true a lot of times
teenagers are the ones with their headphones in listening to
some music, or they get into like some bands, or
(22:25):
you know what, they want to go to concerts, that
sort of thing. And that's that's I mean, all people
like music, of course, but that's something that's particularly associated
with youth, particularly at that time in their life. And
so I can see how music, especially in your case,
as you mentioned, was critical during that transformational period. So Philip,
(22:46):
we'll come back to you talk to us about the
significance of Dreon as sort of the opening act for
Earth Wind and Fire and how you're like connecting you know,
this vision with you know, you know the music and
of course Drion's role and and well you're hoping that'll
(23:07):
that will signific signify.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
It was a very significant uh uh interaction between music
is Uni and Drion. It was just so right on
time because you know, even though we were uh generating
funds to to to actually to help different organizations or
(23:30):
agencies that were that are helping foster youth who are
agent out of the system. We I haven't been in
the system, you know, I don't know. We didn't We
needed a voice and Drion, you know, our collaboration uh
gave us that, you know, uh, the opportunity to you know,
(23:52):
when he's involved, to have that voice that really is
speaking from the place of of being.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
In the shoe of Falster youth.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
So you know, it really makes the whole, our whole
U initiative a lot more U alive and accessible, you know,
to have him to to share you know, his experiences
not only being in in in the Falster system, but
(24:22):
in what he's doing now you know, and you know,
offering hope to those who are who you know could
maybe can possibly never see themselves doing you know, some
of the things that he's doing coming from where they've
come from.
Speaker 6 (24:37):
You know, so.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Well, this is obviously very meaningful work.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
You both are obviously very accomplished individuals, and the fact
that you've taken, you know, such an interest in giving
back in this significant way, obviously that's that's more than commendable.
Before we let you go talk to us a little
bit about you know, what's next for you. So Drian
will start with you something that's upcoming that people can
(25:07):
look forward to, and maybe you know, plug your social
media so people can can tap in with you as well.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Absolutely, So I am currently getting ready to go back
to Nairobi, Kenya to work. I'm working with New Power
Generation and Prints and his and his legacy and his work,
So I'm doing some work over in Africa with that,
and then once I come back, I hop on on
(25:35):
tour with with with with Peb and Earthline and Fire
to open up, you know, to kind of you know,
seal this year, this great year that I've had off
and this incredible time that I've had on the voice
as well with Snoop Dogg, and hopefully I can't speak
much on it right now, but got some great things
(25:55):
in the works with Snoop Dogg and some great things
for twenty twenty five coming. And so if people want
to be able to find out everything that I have
going on, you can find on all so social media
platforms at Dreon, Nation, d R, e io in, a
t I O in and then you can find all
of my music that I have released as well on
(26:18):
all streaming platforms Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, so on and
so forth.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
At Dreon, d R.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
E I O in Fantastic Bill A.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Bailey, you know, anything to add there, any upcoming things
we should be looking forward to. Obviously the tour, but uh,
you know, and another thing that we want to make
sure that we plug is the website for music is
Unity because you know, people might want to tap in
and donate or whatever, so anything like that that you
want to tease.
Speaker 6 (26:46):
That'd be great.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
You could go to music is Unity dot org to
see what we're doing, get involved, and you could go
to Earth Wind and Fire dot com to see what
we're doing. Always we're always doing something. But I bet
you know, thank our fifty plus year fans and our
(27:09):
new fans. And I'm sure that because of Dreon, you know,
we were probably h h gotten new fans you know
from his demographics, so you know, it's very exciting, it's
ongoing and something that we can actually see that is
really divine. So you know, just you know, thank you
(27:31):
Drian again for you.
Speaker 6 (27:33):
Know, your.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Your participation and because we're very, very always excited about
what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Well.
Speaker 7 (27:44):
Absolutely yeah, I think it's such a I mean, coming
from someone you know, as you mentioned, you know, fifty
years as the lead singer of Earth Wind and Fire,
you know rock and roll Hall of Fame, uh, you
know Grammy's and you know everything everything that comes with it.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
You know, I know that.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
You know, you have more fans than anyone could ever
ask for. But the fact that you're kind of pointing
your fans in this direction again, I commend you for that.
It's it's very it's very admirable. And then of course Drion,
you know, you obviously have accomplished more than most people
(28:29):
will in their lifetimes, and you continue to accomplish great things.
So the fact that you both have this shared commitment
to this cause that is so noble, and I'm confident
disproportionately negatively affects black and brown people and black and
brown outcomes. You both coming on to this show to
share your perspective and share your passion. It's it's meaningful
(28:51):
beyond what words can express. So I want to thank
you both for your time once again. Today's guests are
Music Is Unity Foundations Own Philip Bailey of Earth Wind
and Fire and Dreon from the Voice.
Speaker 6 (29:04):
Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 5 (29:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
This has been a production of the Black Information Network.
Today's show was produced by Chris Thompson. Have some thoughts
you'd like to share, use the red microphone talkback feature
on the iHeartRadio app. While you're there, be sure to
hit subscribe and download all of our episodes.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
I'm your host Ramse's
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Jaw on all social media and join us tomorrow as
we share our news with our voice from our perspective
right here on the Black Information Network Daily Podcast
Meet two powerful advocates for foster youth, Philip Bailey, the
iconic Earth Wind and Fire vocalist and founder of the
Music Is Unity Foundation, and Dreon, a talented contested on
the Voice and a former foster youth. Philip Bailey and
his daughter Trinity found in Music Is Unity Foundation. Their
organization is a leading nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth aging
(00:23):
out of the US foster care system to offer supportive
services to the over twenty three thousand youth who are
emancipated from the US foster care system each year. In
My Youth's mission becomes even more relevant this month as
they ramp up fundraising and awareness efforts during National Adoption Month.
Joining us today are Philip Bailey of Earth Wind and
(00:44):
Fire and Dreon from The Voice. This is the Black
Information Network Daily podcast and I'm your host ramses Jah.
All right, you two, welcome to the show. How are
you doing today? I We'll start with you, Philip.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Bailey, ramses thank you very much for having this. This
is a great opportunity. Love you love your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
We appreciate it. Yeah, thank you, thank you. Drean man,
talk to me, what's the latest?
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Hey man, I'm doing great, doing really really good. This
is the honor to be here, you know, with you
as well, and with p B. Always it's always great
to be here supporting foster youth. Uh you know, just
got back from Africa, you know, doing some work down there,
and so it's a it's an honor to to continue
to work here in America as well.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Okay, all right, I appreciate that, man.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
And you know, one of the things that we do
for our listeners here is we we try to start
our stories at the beginning. So obviously you two are
well known individuals, but for folks that might not be
intimately familiar, tell us a little bit about yourselves, give
us a little bit of background, maybe where you grew up,
(01:52):
where you went to school, that sort of thing, and
just kind of give a little bit more than the
introduction would suggest for the benefit of people just coming
to the conversation.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Philip, let's start with you.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
You know, talk to us about, you know, a little
bit of your background and lead us up to sort
of what put this on your heart to start the
music as Unity Foundation.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Okay, well, you know, obviously I'm the lead singer with
Earth Wind and Fire for over fifty years. I'm from Denver, Colorado,
and grew up there playing music through college and playing
in bands and groups and all that stuff, and later
(02:33):
became a member of the of the band of Earth
Winding Fire in the early seventies. And you know, I,
you know, I the rest is kind of is kind
of history. But in terms of foster youth, I'm a
father and grandfather seven and seven and I can't I
(03:01):
couldn't imagine any of my folks, uh trying to navigate
through the world without any support or anyone to turn to.
And UH, so you know, seventeen years ago, Trinity and
I began this foundation and call it music is Unity
(03:26):
to to uh to really address the the much needed
a cause of foster youth. And UH and for that reason,
you know, we you know going forward. You know, Dreian
can tell you how how we how we actually hooked up.
(03:48):
But we're in the We're in the fight to actually
promote foster youth and their and their challenges and and
their victories and and and we do we do a
thing we call our backstage soundcheck program. When we introduce
false use to the touring industry, I mean to our
(04:11):
touring entourage and uh, they meet the different aspects of
what makes us tick when we're out there on the road,
and hope if they want to do anything in that
in that field. But yeah, it's it's a it's an
ongoing thing that's with a lot of challenges, but a
(04:32):
lot of opportunities and a lot of joy. And UH,
we're very proud to be a part of it.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
I appreciate it. Drean.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
For those that don't know, obviously we want the same
from you, but make sure you give a little bit
of your backstory because I think that's obviously very special
and relevant to the conversation we're about to have.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
Well.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Absolutely, I'm actually I grew up in the state right
next door to to p B and in Nebraska, Omaha,
Nebraska is where I'm originally from.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
Uh where you know.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
UH.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
My music journey began as a little boy in church UH,
singing and and and playing uh and and not only church,
but in school, middle school UH or elementary, middle school,
high school, and where I also was in the foster
care system UH at the age of seven. I was
in there for a period of time, a short period
(05:26):
of time, but one of the most challenging parts of
my life still to this day, still something that is
very uh traumatic and and difficult for me to uh
relive and talk about. But it also is is the
strength of where you know, my advocacy and my in
my heart for the foster.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
Care community comes from, because I not only.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
You know, care about the foster youth in the community,
but I was. I was one of the foster youth
in that community. And so while I was in the
fossil Kist system, you know, the two things that I
always said that I always had was God of music.
Those were my two pillars and my two points of hope.
And so music became that that driving force God. God
(06:15):
became that faith and that hope that I needed to
be able to get to wherever I want to in music, uh,
and I was listening to to groups and bands like
Earthen and Fire and al Green and all of these
great groups that I love and artists that I love
because of my grandfather and him introducing me to that
incredible music. So I held on to a lot of
(06:36):
that music while in the foster Kist system and it
drove me to eventually going to Berkeley College of Music
in Boston, where I then became a big, you know, performer,
putting on shows and concerts all over Boston. And once
I graduated from Berkeley College of Music, I released my
(06:59):
first product and it was dedicated to falster care awareness
and telling my story about what happened took place in
the foster care system or when I was in the
foster care system.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
And I reached out to.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
An organization I called Mixed Roots Foundation just to you know,
just just to find a way to partner, you know,
I wanted to. I wanted to not only give back
to this community, but I wanted to find the community
that I belonged to because I knew that I could
be the only one in the world that went through
(07:32):
you know, these difficult things. I was in five different
foster homes, on several different behavior medications, you know, in
and out of psych words. I know I couldn't be
the only one to have gone through that tragic these
tragic events, and so I wanted to find that community.
And this was twenty twenty, in the middle of the pandemic,
(07:53):
and Mixed Routes happened to be partnering with Music is Unity,
and I had no idea that this was a foundation
that was founded by Philip Bailey, had no idea any
anybody had, you know, been involved that was a part
of you know, Earthen and Fire or anybody from the
industry at all. I was just reaching out for the
(08:14):
Foster Care cause and just to tell my story and
to hopefully inspire others. And we got on the first
call and you know, they were like, you know, we
want you to be a part of.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
Our Foster Challenge.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
And we did this big event to be able to
raise funds for foster Youth in twenty in twenty especially
you know, for emergency funds funding, because I mean that
was a challenging time for all of us, but especially
for foster youth who already are at the bottom of
a total pole, if if you will. So that's how
(08:46):
me and you know PB first connected and me and
Music Unity started our partnership and our relationship. It was
through that Foster Challenge, through my Foster Care story, and
through through my first project and from there, you know,
we build an incredible relationship.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
You know, he's talked about the backstage sound checking, you know,
working with the Foster Youth, raising funds, doing events and
then touring also with the band with earthen and fire
as an opening act advocating for foster care awareness and
showing foster youth that you know, you aren't You aren't
the situation that you were given, or you aren't the
(09:24):
situation you were born into. But it's what you make
out of it. And I definitely try to be that
that testament and that that that becon of light for
foster youth as well through Music is Unity and the
work that we do.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
You know, you know you mentioned that there's the picture
you paint is one where there are a lot of
pitfalls potentially for for foster youth. So I want to
lean into that. What are some of the pitfalls that
people who are just that, you know, maybe there's people
(09:58):
out there who their brain is dealing with one hundred
problems and they seldom spare a thought for foster youth
in the community. So let's talk to these listeners about
some of these pitfalls that they may be unaware of
when it comes to kids that are sort of aging
(10:18):
out of foster care. What sort of impact, So let's
talk about those pitfalls and then let's talk about what
sort of impact you're hoping to make with Music is Unity.
So let's keep going with you, Dreon, and then.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
PB, if I may, we'll circle back to you, mister Bailey.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
You know, one of the biggest pitfalls about foster youth
aging out of the system is the fact that they
don't have a point of reference or resource once they
are released from the system. It's almost like you are
released into this big world that you haven't even been
taught about on your own.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
And a lot of these youth don't are.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
Become homeless, they become uh, you know, uh into drugs,
they become they get into jail, they do things for survival,
and a lot of times ends them in places that
already stifle them and keep them from being able to
advance forward in life because they didn't even have a
(11:23):
chance from the beginning. And so one of the great
things I love about music is unity is the effort
to specifically help foster youth who are aging out of
the system with resources, with mentors, UH, with programs and
and and opportunities to be able to uh to plan
(11:45):
out their future before either making that transition or while
making that transition, so that there's another point of reference
in another direction. And that and that's the big thing,
you know, a lot of times, the system they just
they just there's twenty eight thousand plus emancipated foster youth
that are releasing to the world, if you will, every
(12:08):
single year, and there's not enough resources, there's not enough programs,
there's not enough planning for them because now they're technically adults,
but they also didn't have a childhood either. A lot
of them didn't have a lot of the resources or
the education or the opportunities that most youth get in
(12:31):
school and things, and so this community specifically needs the
resources and the help of a music is Unity and
many of the other partnering organizations and voices like mine,
other foster youth who are seeing these problems not being
dealt with, not being handled because they're kind of just
(12:52):
being thrown by the wayside, only because either youth a
lot of them don't have a voice.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
A lot of them.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Don't have people who are readily listening to them actively,
and so it's up to us to be able to
speak for them and to say, hey, listen, they need
more than just a you know, great job, go out
into the world to do you know, what you do best,
because they don't even know what they.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
Want to do. So I commend the work that Music
is Unity.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Does because because they give these foster youth a plan,
a light, and a direction that they can go.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
So anything to add there, uh.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Well, what you're gonna say, very very well, put the thing.
A portion of our proceeds the Earth Windy Fires ticket
sales go to Music is Unity. And then what we
do is we uh we provide funds to different organizations
(13:53):
who are are making it happen for foster use on
a daily for all the for for all the specific
needs that they would have from the very mind, you know,
very minute to the you know, school uh tuitions or
or hospitalizations or whatever, because it's everything that they need.
Speaker 6 (14:18):
It's not just one thing, it's it's it's everything.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
And you know, the the uh the attempt that we
that we have together is to to make it more
accessible to to the masses of you know, the needs
that they have. And uh, you know, they can go
to Music as Unity dot org and find out what.
Speaker 6 (14:41):
We're doing and and uh and.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Donate or get involved with your your your your local
foster agencies.
Speaker 6 (14:49):
But it's it's it's.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Really about making people aware that there's so many people
out there that uh, deserve your your your help and
your care.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
So I'm glad you mentioned that because November is National
Adoption Month, So speak a little bit about why this
month is, you know, criticalness is a critical time in
the year for raising awareness and funds and maybe a
little bit more about how people can get involved. So
so please continue, mister Bailey.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Well, of course, you know, the holiday season is a
great time for many, and it's a horrific time for
so many because you know, people find that that don't
have anyone to go to, or anyone to turn to,
or any kind of support system. You know, they find themselves,
(15:44):
you know, in a vacuum at this time of the year.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
And Dreion can can can uh, you know, explain more.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
But.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
You know it's these is this time of the year
that you know, we really wanted to uh make sure
that people on their on their shopping list that you
put foster Care as one of them.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Andreaan anything to add there, Yeah, I would love to
speak to that.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
You know.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
I love what PV said. You know, because this is
actually twenty years ago. This month would be the.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
The month that I was.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Reunited with my family right before the holidays, and it
is it's a very very important time of the year
for many people. You know, there's a lot of generosity
going on and people collecting you know, money for men
for many various different things. But when it comes to
(16:48):
foster youth, you know, as PB said, it's just it's
just the basic needs, you know, it's the little things
that that that really matter to these youth, from food
to just a place to call home, a place to
lay their head down, a place to be able to
to think, you know, to be able to enjoy Thanksgiving,
(17:09):
to enjoy Christmas uh and and a family to be
able to to do that with, which is you know,
the big important piece of National Adoption Month.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
I definitely feel and think that.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
This is so important for the masses to be involved
with because us as we go into the holiday season,
this is a very very crucial time as well, when
when suicide rates are high and people are in the
gloom because of the weather and because of the time
of year and the difficulties that come with it.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
And I think one of the biggest things that you
can do.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
For somebody is to not just you know, not just
give them a you know, keep going, not just give
them a you know, but help them in a way
that will uh set them up for success, set set
them on a trajectory that will put them on an
upward path. And I think that that's definitely what these
(18:11):
fossil youth need during this time and especially during Adoption
Awareness Month we're talking about. You know, sometimes it's not
just money, but it is your support, it is your
these families being a part of finding homes for these children.
If you can't do it yourself being a part of
(18:31):
or if you can give resources to somebody that might
be able to do it, or however you see fit,
I think it definitely this is the time and uh,
this is definitely the time of year that you can
make one of those youths. Uh, you can bake their year,
you can make their life change.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Joining us today are Philip Bailey of Earth Wind and
Fire and Dreon from The Voice discussing the music is
Unity Foundation. All Right, Drian, one of the things that
you've been able to do so far in this conversation
is really bring us into what it means to be
(19:11):
kind of at the ground level, what the experience is
like for foster kids.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
And I believe sort of what people.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
May not know about what that experience is like you
can kind of help fill in some of the gaps.
But one of the things that I really I think
there's still something here. Talk to us a little bit
about why music is so important at this sort of
(19:42):
critical transformative moment in a.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Foster kid's life.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Why is music so important and what is it that
you believe music can do in terms of helping people
transition from one phase to the next.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
Well, I can definitely speak for myself when it comes
to music. Music was was the thing that I couldn't
let loose.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
It was the thing that I couldn't shake.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
I was always tapping on something, I was always humming something,
I was always singing something, and so.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Music came it.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Well, it was already in my life, but it helped
me at a pivotal point in my life to understand
and know, Okay, I am not happy with the circumstance
and the life that I am in right now. You know,
I was taking away from my mother. I'm a little kid.
I don't know what's happening. I don't know if I
(20:41):
want to ever see my family again. I have no
idea what's going on, what's happening. I'm going from home
to home to home to home. I don't have much belongings.
I don't have much stuff. The only thing that I'm
carrying with me is my voice. And that was a
key thing for me. I couldn't I didn't have I
was carrying around my U and trash backs, you know.
(21:02):
But the one thing that never was lost was my
voice and my singing voice.
Speaker 5 (21:08):
My ability to to.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Create music in my head, my ability to be able
to uh, to imagine songs uh and and and.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
They come out of my body. You know.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
It It was it was a it was a it
was it.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Was a healing for me. It was a point of reference,
a hope for me.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
And it gave me a future because you know, now,
to be you know, to have tour with Earth When
and Fire and work with all the amazing artists that
I've worked with. To be on the voice right now,
working with Snoop Dogg is uh beyond the dreams of
the seven year old Drion that was in that Foster
care you know. But well, I was gonna say but that,
(21:53):
but that is That's what music did for me.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
It gave me a drive, It gave me a reason
and to push forward, to push through and to keep going.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Sure, that's that's exactly what I was thinking, because you know,
when I recall my my teenage years where I was
transitioning from a child into an adult, I knew how
important music was for me. And and you know, if
you think about it, it's true a lot of times
teenagers are the ones with their headphones in listening to
some music, or they get into like some bands, or
(22:25):
you know what, they want to go to concerts, that
sort of thing. And that's that's I mean, all people
like music, of course, but that's something that's particularly associated
with youth, particularly at that time in their life. And
so I can see how music, especially in your case,
as you mentioned, was critical during that transformational period. So Philip,
(22:46):
we'll come back to you talk to us about the
significance of Dreon as sort of the opening act for
Earth Wind and Fire and how you're like connecting you know,
this vision with you know, you know the music and
of course Drion's role and and well you're hoping that'll
(23:07):
that will signific signify.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
It was a very significant uh uh interaction between music
is Uni and Drion. It was just so right on
time because you know, even though we were uh generating
funds to to to actually to help different organizations or
(23:30):
agencies that were that are helping foster youth who are
agent out of the system. We I haven't been in
the system, you know, I don't know. We didn't We
needed a voice and Drion, you know, our collaboration uh
gave us that, you know, uh, the opportunity to you know,
(23:52):
when he's involved, to have that voice that really is
speaking from the place of of being.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
In the shoe of Falster youth.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
So you know, it really makes the whole, our whole
U initiative a lot more U alive and accessible, you know,
to have him to to share you know, his experiences
not only being in in in the Falster system, but
(24:22):
in what he's doing now you know, and you know,
offering hope to those who are who you know could
maybe can possibly never see themselves doing you know, some
of the things that he's doing coming from where they've
come from.
Speaker 6 (24:37):
You know, so.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Well, this is obviously very meaningful work.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
You both are obviously very accomplished individuals, and the fact
that you've taken, you know, such an interest in giving
back in this significant way, obviously that's that's more than commendable.
Before we let you go talk to us a little
bit about you know, what's next for you. So Drian
will start with you something that's upcoming that people can
(25:07):
look forward to, and maybe you know, plug your social
media so people can can tap in with you as well.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Absolutely, So I am currently getting ready to go back
to Nairobi, Kenya to work. I'm working with New Power
Generation and Prints and his and his legacy and his work,
So I'm doing some work over in Africa with that,
and then once I come back, I hop on on
(25:35):
tour with with with with Peb and Earthline and Fire
to open up, you know, to kind of you know,
seal this year, this great year that I've had off
and this incredible time that I've had on the voice
as well with Snoop Dogg, and hopefully I can't speak
much on it right now, but got some great things
(25:55):
in the works with Snoop Dogg and some great things
for twenty twenty five coming. And so if people want
to be able to find out everything that I have
going on, you can find on all so social media
platforms at Dreon, Nation, d R, e io in, a
t I O in and then you can find all
of my music that I have released as well on
(26:18):
all streaming platforms Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, so on and
so forth.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
At Dreon, d R.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
E I O in Fantastic Bill A.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Bailey, you know, anything to add there, any upcoming things
we should be looking forward to. Obviously the tour, but uh,
you know, and another thing that we want to make
sure that we plug is the website for music is
Unity because you know, people might want to tap in
and donate or whatever, so anything like that that you
want to tease.
Speaker 6 (26:46):
That'd be great.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
You could go to music is Unity dot org to
see what we're doing, get involved, and you could go
to Earth Wind and Fire dot com to see what
we're doing. Always we're always doing something. But I bet
you know, thank our fifty plus year fans and our
(27:09):
new fans. And I'm sure that because of Dreon, you know,
we were probably h h gotten new fans you know
from his demographics, so you know, it's very exciting, it's
ongoing and something that we can actually see that is
really divine. So you know, just you know, thank you
(27:31):
Drian again for you.
Speaker 6 (27:33):
Know, your.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Your participation and because we're very, very always excited about
what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Well.
Speaker 7 (27:44):
Absolutely yeah, I think it's such a I mean, coming
from someone you know, as you mentioned, you know, fifty
years as the lead singer of Earth Wind and Fire,
you know rock and roll Hall of Fame, uh, you
know Grammy's and you know everything everything that comes with it.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
You know, I know that.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
You know, you have more fans than anyone could ever
ask for. But the fact that you're kind of pointing
your fans in this direction again, I commend you for that.
It's it's very it's very admirable. And then of course Drion,
you know, you obviously have accomplished more than most people
(28:29):
will in their lifetimes, and you continue to accomplish great things.
So the fact that you both have this shared commitment
to this cause that is so noble, and I'm confident
disproportionately negatively affects black and brown people and black and
brown outcomes. You both coming on to this show to
share your perspective and share your passion. It's it's meaningful
(28:51):
beyond what words can express. So I want to thank
you both for your time once again. Today's guests are
Music Is Unity Foundations Own Philip Bailey of Earth Wind
and Fire and Dreon from the Voice.
Speaker 6 (29:04):
Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 5 (29:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
This has been a production of the Black Information Network.
Today's show was produced by Chris Thompson. Have some thoughts
you'd like to share, use the red microphone talkback feature
on the iHeartRadio app. While you're there, be sure to
hit subscribe and download all of our episodes.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
I'm your host Ramse's
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Jaw on all social media and join us tomorrow as
we share our news with our voice from our perspective
right here on the Black Information Network Daily Podcast
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