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Kashif

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Music Producer

The Resume

    (December 26, 1956-September 25, 2016)
    Born in New York City, New York
    Birth name is Michael Jones
    Later adopted the name Kashif Saleem
    Synthesizer, Producer, Songwriter/Arranger, Singer, and Multi-Instrumentalist
    CEO, Founder and Creative Director of Music Business 411
    Widely considered a pioneer in urban music, synthesizer technology, and in the use of MIDI in music production
    Started out with the funk band B. T. Express, at the age of 15
    Signed with Arista Records, enjoying success as a solo artist
    Albums include 'Kashif' (1983), 'Send Me Your Love' (1984), 'Condition of the Heart' (1985), and 'Love Changes' (1987)
    Singles include 'So Fine,' 'I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On),' 'Stone Love,' 'Help Yourself to My Love,' 'Say Something Love,' 'Baby Don't Break Your Baby's Heart,' 'Are You the Woman,' 'Ooh Love,' 'Love on the Rise,' 'Dancing in the Dark (Heart to Heart),' 'Reservations for Two,' 'Love Me All Over,' 'I'm in Love,' and 'Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)'
    Amassed gold and platinum albums for hit-making productions with Whitney Houston, George Benson,Al Jarreau, Evelyn 'Champagne' King, Melba Moore, Me'lisa Morgan, and Dionne Warwick
    Wrote and self-published the book 'Everything You'd Better Know About The Record Industry'
    Founded Contemporary Record Production With Kashif, via the UCLA Extension program, in 1996
    Was inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame as a 'Living Legend' (Nov. 14, 2004)
    Founded Kashif University, an integrated education and arts training program for at-risk-youth ages 8–18, in 2006

Why he might be annoying:

    His marriage to actress Tracey Ross lasted less than six months.
    He changed his name to an Arabic moniker for mentor and discoverer, after converting to Islam.
    His hyperactive work schedule got him booted from B.T.E. because it annoyed the hell out of them.
    His perfectionism was such that he allegedly joked to Melba Moore that she was the only vocalist who didn't cuss him out over the number of retakes he made his clients do.
    He was allegedly signed by Arista Records in the hope that he would be their answer to Prince.
    His label later tried to get him to rip off the M.C. Hammer image in the early 90s.
    It took a year for Clive Davis (whom he clashed with constantly) to convince him to collaborate with Whitney Houston.
    He is overshadowed by Stevie Wonder, who gets most of the credit for the urban music breakthroughs.
    Although moderately successful as a solo artist, he only achieved long-term traction behind-the-scenes, producing records for other 'big-name stars.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He launched the music careers of Whitney Houston and Kenny G.
    His birth mother was incarcerated when he was four months old.
    He endured physical and mental (in some cases horrific) abuse at the hands of several, early, foster parents.
    He taught himself to play a three-dollar flute at the age of seven (and would master every instrument by the time he was 15).
    He produced Whitney Houston's two earliest hits, in 1985, which collectively sold over 30 million on their debut.
    He married Tracey Ross even after discovering that she was pregnant with another man's child.
    As his pop celebrity waned, his influence as a star-maker exponentially grew in R&B circles.
    His expose about the music industry rendered him unpopular with many music moguls.
    He pioneered the concept of replacing drum sounds, background vocal placements, 'flying vocals' duplicated through the Synclavier, and even dialogue editing.
    He received Grammy nominations for his instrumentals 'The Mood,' 'Call Me Tonight,' 'Edgartown Groove,' and 'The Movie Song.'
    He filed litigation against the city of Los Angeles and the LAPD, in 1997, after he was racially profiled, detained, and groped inappropriately by a police officer (he settled out of court for $365,000 - at the time an unprecedented sum).
    He created the Mentorship Dinner Cruise, for up to 200 youths in foster care to bond with up to 250 practicing professionals.
    He created and founded the Team iCare Foundation, producing the very first Walk/Run for Foster Care at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California (2006).

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 101 Votes: 42.57% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 24 Votes: 45.83% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 103 Votes: 51.46% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 113 Votes: 59.29% Annoying