Kashif
Born 1959, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
Kashif was born Michael Jones. Later he took the Islamic name Kasif Saleem, under which name he became famous. He was orphaned at an early age, growing up in eight foster homes. His first experience with synthesized instruments came during his years with B.T. Express ('Express,' 'Do It 'Til You're Satisfied'). He appears on the group's early-'80's sides for Columbia Records.
Kashif began playing synthesizer bass using the mini Moog while on the road with the group. After leaving the group, Kashif began making demos with the group Stepping Stone. The demo's led to his recording contract with Arista Records in 1983. Kashif was invited to tour with hitmaker Stephanie Mills at a time when contemporary R & B acts were just beginning to use electronic instruments for live work.
Inspired by Gamble & Huff and Thom Bell's Mighty Three Music, he formed Mighty M Productions with Paul Laurence and Morrie Brown, infusing early '80's R & B with a fresh synth-based sound. One of their first projects was Evelyn Champagne King who had a 1979 gold single, 'Shame.' Kashif also produced 'I'm in love' and 'Love come down' which were also massive hits for Evelyn King
Kashif has had a very colourful career as a singer, a songwriter, a musician and most successfully, a Producer. He wrote and played on Whitney Houston's first hit 'You Give Good Love' and one of its follow-ups, 'Thinking About You' from her 17-million-selling debut album 'Whitney Houston'.
His own recording career yielded 17 R & B hit singles and four Top 40 albums. He recorded several duets that included, 'Love Changes' with Mel'isa Morgan, 'Love the One I'm With' with Melba Moore, and 'Reservations for Two' with Dionne Warwick. Around this time, Kashif had begun working with the New England Digital Synclavier.
Kashif invented uses for sampling, for example, replacing drum sounds, lead and background vocal placements, and even dialog editing. Howard Johnson's 'So Fine' was the first record on which he used the technique of 'flying in' vocals and some vocal passages could be duplicated by the Synclavier.
This created a whole new approach to production with vocalists that continues to be used extensively. Signing with Arista Records in 1983, his self-tilted debut 'Kashif 'spawned the hits 'I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On),' 'Stone Love,' 'Help Yourself to My Love,' and 'Say Something Love.'
His other albums are 'Send Me Your Love' including, 'Baby Don't Break Your Baby's Heart,' 'Are You the Woman,' 'Condition of the Heart', 'Love Changes' and 1989's 'Kashif', with the fine cover of The Four Tops hit 'Aint No Woman Like the One I Got.'
Becoming an in-demand writer / producer, Kashif can be heard on releases by Kenny G, Howard Johnson ('Keeping Love New'), George Benson, Johnny Kemp, Dionne Warwick, Giorge Pettus, Stacy Lattisaw, Expose, the Wootens, Freda Payne, and others. His Grammy nominations are for the instrumentals 'The Mood,' 'Call Me Tonight,' 'Edgartown Groove' featuring Al Jarreau, and 'The Movie Song.'
In 1998, Kashif signed with U.K. label Expansion Records and his album 'Who Loves You' was released that same year.
Albums
Kashif (1983)
Send Me Your Love (1984)
Condition of the Heart (1985)
Love Changes (1987)
Kashif (1989)
Best (1994)
Who Loves You (1998)
Definitive Collection (1998)
Tracks currently playing/played on the station
I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On) (Album: Kashif)
Stone Love (Album: Kashif)
The Mood (Album: Kashif)
Help Yourself to My Love (Album: Kashif)
Are You the Woman (Album: Send Me Your Love)
Send Me Your Love (Album: Send Me Your Love)
Love Me All Over (Album: Love Changes)
Somebody (Album: Love Changes)
Brooklyn Breezes (Album: Who Loves You)
Kashif Album info
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