BIO + VISION
LION FROM THE MOON (also known as OSHUNDE or PHILIP BAILEY JR) is an internationally renowned vocalist, songwriter, vocal producer, Yogi, and cultural custodian from Los Angeles, CA. He is the youngest son of and fellow band member with Philip Bailey Sr, vocalist of the Grammy Award winning band, Earth Wind & Fire.
His enchantment with music and cosmology began at birth; as a natural musician and philosopher, he developed a spiritual connection with the melodies, rhythms, and romance of the music of Africa and her Diaspora.
The family and community in which he was raised contributed to an African-centered cultural consciousness that later deeply informed his music. His ear for music was first recognized by his father in 1981 while recording the Earth Wind & Fire RAISE album. At just one years old, Oshunde could sing the scat melody on the song “I’ve Had Enough” in tune.
With the writing of his 2nd song “Imagination” at age 10, he displayed a before-his-time consciousness of the connection between music and spirituality. This path continued with his embracing of his voice as a gift from the divine, and music as his life’s purpose. As a teenager he joined the Christ Memorial Youth Choir, and after being singled-out by Pastor Andre Crouch in one of the rehearsals, was invited to sing sessions with Andre Crouch’s Christ Memorial Church Choir. At 16 years old, Oshunde sang with the choir on the closing track featured in the film A Time To Kill (1996). Here, he bonded with his mentor and Godmother Olivia McClurkin, sister to the esteemed gospel singer Donnie McClurkin and background vocalist for Whitney Houston. Under her tutelage, his musical vocabulary expanded to incorporate more complex jazz harmonies, and he was taught how to make beats Hip-Hop beats on the MPC-3000 via Tony McClurkin, Olivia’s brother.
At age 17, songwriter Jimmy Randolph began giving Oshunde advanced mentorship in musicality. At his expert suggestion, Oshunde attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA earning a degree in professional music with an emphasis in performance and composition. Here, he studied the fundamentals of jazz performance and improvisation under the guidance of the distinguished educators Hal Crook, Theo Bleckman and Charlie Banacos. He also met one of his most influential mentors, the noteworthy Mr. Lawrence Watson PhD; world class performer, educator, community activist. It was at this time that Oshunde embarked on his first international tour alongside Philip Bailey Sr, for the Soul on Jazz Tour in 2003. He shared the stage with the likes of George Benson and more.
After college Oshunde dove into a professional music career, gigging with the local Boston band Soul City, working with Lawrence Watson and Save Ourselves Productions, and scoring an independent film as one-half of the musical duo known as PLING, and opening up for Little Richard.
In 2009, Oshunde was invited to perform on the David Foster & Friends Tour alongside Philip Bailey Sr, Peter Cetera, Ruben Studdard, Deborah Cox, Charice, Michael Johns, JR, and The Canadian Tenors. The next year, Oshunde moved back home to Los Angeles and was invited to perform with the mighty elements: Earth Wind & Fire. Since singing in the band, he has shared the stage with Chicago, Stevie Wonder, Journey, Fleetwod Mac, Shiela E., Kendrick Lamar, Chance The Rapper, The Black Eyed Peas, and more.
Today Oshunde keeps the ancient traditions of musicality + mysticism alive, by merging the two as his mission, vision, and purpose. He had been a practitioner of yoga for years, but after reading an article about saxophonist Sonny Rollins entitled “How 50 Years of Practicing Yoga Made Him a Better Musician” he decided to take his yoga practice to the next level by becoming a certified Kemetic Yoga Instructor. “Kemet” is the indigenous name for the civilization that the west knows as “Egypt”. He is available for private Kemetic Yoga lessons, classes, and workshops.
He is still singing, writing songs, and performing with EWF. He plans to release his first solo EP in August of 2019.
From R&B, Soul, Funk, Gospel, Highlife, Blues, and especially Jazz, LION FROM THE MOON channels his musical inspirations directly from the echoes of his ancestors from the American south, West, and East Africa.