The hit song September, by Earth Wind, & Fire was written in 1978 and included on the 1979 album I Am. It was composed by Al McKay, Maurice White and Allee Willas. Maurice White's wife Marilyn notes that the lyric about the date - the 21st of September - was significant because it was the due date for their son, Kahbran. Willis was concerned over the gibberish lyric ba-dee-yah and begged White to change it. After the success of the song, he noted that I learned my greatest lesson ever in songwriting from him, which was never let the lyric get in the way of the groove.