Evil Roy

"Evil Roy" is a single by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire issued in 1988 by Columbia Records.^[1] The song rose to No. 22 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and No. 38 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.^[2][3]

"Evil Roy"
Single by Earth, Wind & Fire
from the album Touch the World
B-side	"Evil Roy (Instrumental)"
Released	1988
Recorded	1987
Genre	R&B
Length	4:01 (single version) 4:54 (album version)
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Philip Bailey Attala Zane Giles Allee Willis
Producer(s)	Maurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology
"Thinking of You" (1988) "Evil Roy" (1988) "Turn on (The Beat Box)" (1988)

Overview

"Evil Roy" was produced by EWF bandleader Maurice White and composed by Philip Bailey, Attala Zane Giles and Allee Willis. The song came off the band's 1987 studio album Touch the World.^[1]

A music video was issued in 1988 to accompany the single.^[4]

Critical reception

David Emerson of The Boston Globe described "Evil Roy" as having "a menacing bass line".^[5] Harry Sumrall of the San Jose Mercury-News stated "Evil Roy, gets down, just as the title cut assumes a loftier tone, lyrically, while funking out."^[6]

Personnel

• Maurice White: lead vocals, background vocals
• Philip Bailey: songwriter, lead vocals, background vocals
• Allee Willis: songwriter
• Attala Zane Giles: songwriter, producer, synthesized bass, synthesizer, synth arranger, guitar, percussion programming, background vocals
• Sheldon Reynolds: guitar
• Rhett Lawrence: Fairlight CMI programming, sequencing, drum programming

Chart positions

Chart (1988)	Peak position
U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play	38[3]
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	22[2]