Kashif (musician)
Kashif Saleem (born Michael Jones; December 26, 1956 – September 25, 2016)[1][2] was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from New York City. As a teenager, Kashif joined the funk group B. T. Express.[3] He studied Islam and changed his name from Michael Jones to Kashif.[4] He later signed with Arista Records enjoying success as a solo artist.[5]
For other people with similar names, see Kashif and Michael Jones.
Kashif
Together with Stevie Wonder, he was considered a pioneer in urban music thanks to his specific synthesizer technology approach and the introduction of MIDI in his production.[5]
Early life[edit]
Kashif was born Michael Jones[6] on December 26, 1956 (Some media outlets list his birth year as 1959),[4][7] in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. His only connection to his birth family is his birth certificate, which indicates that his biological mother was incarcerated when he was four months old. He was immediately put in foster care.[4] He was constantly abused physically and mentally by his foster parents, and at the age of six, he moved into a more stable foster home.[5] His introduction to music came in the form of a $3.00 song flute when he was in elementary school.[3]
Career[edit]
Musician[edit]
In 1974, Kashif was recruited as a keyboard player and vocalist to join the funk band B. T. Express,[5] whose credits included the hits "Express" and "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)", among others. Seeking a more challenging musical assignment in 1978, Kashif exited B. T. Express and landed a job as a keyboardist for R&B musician Stephanie Mills.[5]