Charles Stepney: Out of the Shadows
Season 1
Charles Stepney: Out of the Shadows is a tribute to "one of the underrated heroes of Chicago soul music," Stepney contributed to the sounds of Muddy Waters, Minnie Riperton, Ramsey Lewis, Earth, Wind and Fire, and more. International Anthem has produced a four-part documentary entitled Out of the Shadows directed by Chicago documentarian Brian Ashby. It features interviews and testimonies from members of Earth, Wind and Fire, Terry Callier, the Dells, and the Stepney Sisters.
Where to Watch Charles Stepney: Out of the Shadows • Season 1
4 Episodes
- In the BasementE1
In the BasementEpisode One follows Stepney into his basement studio on the South Side Chicago, where he workshopped, recorded, and created much of the music that would become gold and platinum selling hits, and even more music that would never see the light of day. It features interviews and testimonies from members of Earth, Wind and Fire, Terry Callier, the Dells, and Stepney's daughters Eibur, Charlene, and Chanté (aka the Stepney Sisters). - The Next PlaneE2
The Next PlaneCharles Stepney: Out of the Shadows - Episode Two, "The Next Plane," highlights the circumstances around Stepney's death, as recounted from historical, communal, and familial perspectives, and just some of the subsequent work The Stepney Sisters have been doing over several decades to archive, cherish, and celebrate their father's legacy. - LegacyE3
LegacyEpisode Three "Legacy" - is the opaque entanglement of Stepney's rights and royalties that his family has inherited and struggled with for decades, as well as the present movements being made by his daughters (Eibur, Charlene and Chanté) to clear things up and transform the immense pain of that struggle into a celebration of their father's work. - A Rotary ConnectionE4
A Rotary Connection"Out of the Shadows" - a four part web series directed by Chicago documentarian Brian Ashby (known for his work on Scrappers, The Area, Harry Who and The Chicago Imagists, and a forthcoming film about Damon Locks and Black Monument Ensemble) comes to a close with Episode 4: "A Rotary Connection," which beautifully documents the musical journey of Rotary Connection 222 throughout the Summer of Stepney.