Charles Stepney has been played on NTS over 40 times, featured on 47 episodes and was first played on 24 March 2022.

Charles Stepney (26 March 1931 – 17 May 1976) was one the greatest, and most unjustly forgotten, soul/pop producers and arrangers of the last 50 years, known for his distinctive, lush, sophisticated orchestra-driven psychedelic soul sound with Chicago's Cadet/Chess Records in the 1960s/1970s and afterward with Earth, Wind & Fire.

Together with Marshall Chess (son of Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess), Stepney created Rotary Connection for the new experimental Cadet Concept label, producing the band's six studio albums: Rotary Connection, Aladdin, Peace, Songs, Dinner Music, and Hey Love (as The New Rotary Connection).

Among other credits, Charles produced, arranged & co-wrote Minnie Riperton’s 1970 debut classic Come to My Garden, as well as producing albums for other artists such as Phil Upchurch, Ramsey Lewis, Muddy Waters and Terry Callier.

Last but not least, he wrote the arrangement for the definitive cover of 'California Soul' by Marlena Shaw.