Bashiri Johnson

Bashiri Johnson
Background information
Born (1955-05-12) May 12, 1955
Brooklyn, NY, U.S.
Genres World, soul, pop, Jazz, R&B, Rock music
Occupation(s) Percussionist, songwriter, producer, programmer, composer, vocalist, educator
Instruments Percussion
Years active (1971–present)
Labels Life in Rhythm Media, BBE Music
Associated acts Michael Jackson’s This Is It band, Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, Roots 'N Rhythm, Whitney Houston, Steve Winwood, Madonna, Sting, Village People
Website www.bashirijohnson.com

Bashiri Johnson (born May 12, 1955) is a New York City-based percussionist, whose work has appeared on many records, as well as in commercials, films, television, videogames,[1] and concert performances.[2] He is known to be one of the most recorded percussionists in the music business, as well as one of the most visible.[3] While he has recorded with such artists as Luther Vandross, Miles Davis, and Patti LaBelle, he has also been a part of numerous on-stage performances; he has performed on stage with artists such as Sting, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin, and Steve Winwood.[4]

Musical career

His interest in music and percussion started at a very young age, when growing up in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, during the 1960s. According to his mother, his talents in percussion started as early as pre-school with drumming on desks and furniture, occasionally to the extent of disrupting class.[4]

Growing up in the 1960s and 70s, he pulled musical influence from a number of popular movements, musicians and percussionists of the time. Those include Sly, Hendrix, Cream, The Panthers, and artists such as Airto, Big Black, Tito Puente, Ralph McDonald, Bill Summers, Paulinho DaCosta, Miles, James Brown and Bootsy were also strong influences on the young Bashiri Johnson.[5][6]

Formal percussion education took a number of forms for Johnson, including high school bands, lessons at Jazzmobile, lessons at the Dance Theater of Harlem, and with Olatunji.[6] A three-year mentorship with Mtume also served as a hallmark of his early education and career. The time spent with Mtume during the 1970s taught Johnson not only the art of percussion, but the world of the music business and session recording. It led to his first professional session on “Watcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’” by Stephanie Mills, which went gold.[5][6]

His career grew rapidly in the 1970s and 80s, and Johnson was able to contribute to other gold records by artists such as Luther Vandross, and Madonna. Since then, Johnson has been recorded on hundreds of records, worked with some of the most well-known artists, and performed for some major political figures. Notably, he performed in Whitney Houston’s band for 20 years, was a percussionist for Michael Jackson in the "This Is It" band. He has performed for Nelson Mandela in South Africa, as well as at the 2013 Presidential Inauguration.[7][8] Bashiri Johnson has also performed at the White House as part of two separate "In Performance at the White House" presentations. Once for the presentation of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song,[9] and once for "The Motown Sound."[10]

His most recent endeavors include participating in Michael Jackson The IMMORTAL World Tour with Cirque du Soleil,[11] while continuing to write, produce, and perform in a variety of media. Among his endeavors and accomplishments are a production company (Bashman Productions[7]), record/media label (Life in Rhythm Media[12]), and recording studio (The Lab-Brooklyn[7]). Through The Lab-Brooklyn, Bashiri Johnson has recorded his percussion for a number of notable artists, including Herbie Hancock, Barbra Streisand, George Benson, Al Jarreau and many others. Bashiri Johnson also presents percussion intensive seminars, as well as lectures, workshops and master classes to share his knowledge and give back to young people.[2]

Discography

Contributions

He has recorded with the following artists, contributing in a variety of roles, including percussionist, composer, arranger, photographer, videographer, programmer, featured artist, and vocalist.[13][14]

#

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A

Christina Aguilera, Ana, Anastacia, Eric Andersen, Steven Anderson, Anthony and The Camp, April, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, India Arie, Ashanti, Roy Ayers

B

B.W.B., Backstreet Boys, Anita Baker, Anita Baker & the Backbeat Disciples, Bob Baldwin, Anastasia Barzee, Basement Jaxx, Walter Beasley, Pete Belasco, George Benson, George Benson & Count Basie Orchestra, Rhian Benson, Adele Bertei, Beyoncé, Beu Sisters, Black Uhuru, Blancmange, Lee Blaske, The Blow, Blues Traveler, Blues Trottoir, Michael Bolton, Jamie Bonk, Monika Borzym, Boyz II Men, Brad, Laura Branigan, Breaking Laces, Randy Brecker, The Brecker Brothers, Edie Brickell, Brooklyn Express, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Jocelyn Brown, Peter Brown, Patrick Bruel, Tyrone Brunson, Julie Budd, Alex Bugnon, Jenny Burton, Ben Butler, Jonathan Butler, David Byrne

C

C+C Music Factory, Caleb, Candi, Rachele Cappelli, Mariah Carey, Eric Carmen, Jim Carrey, Dee Carstensen, Mike Catalano, Kate Ceberano, Claude Challe, Gordon Chambers, Tom Chapin, Ray Charles, Josh Charles, Charles & Eddie, Cher, Cheri, Neneh Cherry, Deepak Chopra M.D., Gavin Christopher, Peter Cincotti, Cinderella, Citizen Cope, Johnny Clegg & Savuka, Clarence Clemons & the Red Bank Rockers, Clubland, Joe Cocker, Marc Cohn, Lloyd Cole, Natalie Cole, Judy Collins, Constina, The Controllers, Jesse Cook, Larry Coryell, Suzanne Couch, The Cover Girls, Randy Crawford, Cyré

D

E.G. Daily, Rick Danko, Alana Davis, Miles Davis, Rainy Davis, Taylor Dayne, Bill Deal, Michael Dease, Bunny DeBarge, Joey DeFrancesco, Lea DeLaria, Des’ree, Raúl Di Blasio, Celine Dion, Divine, Will Downing, Duran Duran, Bob Dylan, Johnny Dynell

E

Cliff Eberhardt, Linda Eder, Phill Edwards, Noel Elmowy, The Embers, Melissa Errico, Gloria Estefan, Eternal, Emily van Evera

F

Face to Face, Donald Fagen, Charles Fambrough, The Family Stand, Ricky Fanté, Elisa Fiorillo, First Circle, Roberta Flack, Flying Monkey Orchestra, The Force M.D.’s, Julia Fordham, Bruce Foulke, Amy Fradon, Aretha Franklin, Michael Franks, Nnenna Freelon, Fury

G

Kenny G., Galactic Agents, Kenny Garrett, George Garzone, GeWaDoKa, Debbie Gibson, Giorgia, Global Noize, Godchildren of Soul, Larry Goldings, Cuba Gooding, Clint Goss, Tom Grant, Al Green, Gullah Gullah Island, Gutterboy

H

Wolfgang Haffner, Omar Hakim, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Jim Hall, Lynden David Hall, Mercedes Hall, Lionel Hampton, Herbie Hancock, Tramaine Hawkins, Nona Hendryx, Nicole Henry, Vincent Henry, D’Atra Hicks, Utadu Hikaru, Mel Holder, Jennifer Holliday, Host Streak, Caroline Horn, Whitney Houston, Miki Howard, Andrew Hugger

I

India, Russ Irwin, Ish

J

J.K., Ja Rule, Chuck Jackson, Freddie Jackson, Nancey Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Sherri Jackson, Jackson/Smith/Gooding, Lisa Jaeggi, Bob James, Janita, Al Jarreau, Jay-Z, JD & the Straight Shot, Wyclef Jean, Garland Jeffreys, Jellybean, Jill Jenson, Genobia Jeter, Joan Jett, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joe, Don Johnson, Howard Johnson, Syleena Johnson, Sabrina Johnston, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Donell Jones, Glenn Jones, Oran “Juice” Jones, Rickie Lee Jones, Martyn Joseph, Wally Jump Jr. & The Criminal Element, Joshua Redman Elastic Band

K

Patricia Kaas, Toshiki Kadomatsu, Kashif, Kaskade, Katell Keineg, Johnny Kemp, Angélique Kidjo, Kiko, Diana King, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Kiroron, Lew Kirton, Yoshiko Kishino, Eartha Kitt, Jennifer Knapp, Holly Knight, Frankie Knuckles, Dave Koz, Lenny Kravitz, John Krondes, Toshinobu Kubota

L

La La, La’Riece, La Union, Patti LaBelle, Landscape, David Lanz, Patty Larkin, Lattanzi, Kenny Lattimore, Stacy Lattisaw, Cyndi Lauper, Viktor Lazlo, Will Lee, Toby Lightman, Lil’ Louis, Lil’ Louis & The World, Lillo Thomas, The Limit, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Lode, Chuck Loeb, Bobby Lyle, Kami Lyle, Cheryl Lynn

M

James Maddock, Madonna, Kevin Mahogany, Barry Manilow, Billy Mann, Grégoire Maret, Felicia Marion, Jennifer Marks, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Kent Masuda, Rob Mathes, Maxwell, Maysa, Francis Mbappe, Bonnie McKee, Brian McKnight, Marion Meadows, Members Only, Metro, The Michael Zager Band, Bette Midler, John Miller, Marcus Miller, Stephanie Mills, Sophie Milman, Kylie Minogue, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lisa Molina, Mondo Grosso, Jane Monheit, Monzie-D & Too Quick, Melba Moore, David Morales, David Morales & the Bad Yard Club, Debelah Morgan, Meli’sa Morgan, Jason Mraz, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Nicole C. Mullen, Larry Mullen, Jr., Myleka

N

Najee, Norman Nardini, Ultra Naté, Nelly, Aaron Neville, Robbie Neville, New Edition, Noel, Nomad, Nuyorican Soul, Laura Nyro

O

Billy Ocean, Bill O’Connell, The O’Jays, Olu, Open Door, Kevin Owens, Robert Owens, Kenji Ozawa

P

Tommy Page, The Party, The Pasadenas, Adam Pascal, Dunn Pearson, Jr., CeCe Peniston, Joe Pesci, Peter, Paul and Mary, Bernadette Peters, Jonathan Peters, Pilgrimage, Planet Patrol, Scritti Politti, Lorenza Ponce, Billy Porter, Prema,Tristan Des Prés, Pretty Poison, Howard Prince

Q

The Quick

R

The Rake’s Progress, Rancid, Nelson Rangell, Raw Stylus, Lou Rawls, Baron Raymonde, The Reddings, Cassandra Reed, Mary Lou Retten, Bob Reynolds, Nicki Richards, Lionel Richie, Leslie Ritter, Robey, Robi-Rob’s Clubworld, Rocker’s Revenge, CeCe Rogers, Roots ‘N Rhythm, Sandi Rose, Ted Rosenthal, Diana Ross, Paul Ruderman, Jennifer Rush

S

Sabelle, Santana, Sari, Diane Schuur, Sherie René Scott, The Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies, Neil Sedaka, Seduction, Eric Serra, Marlena Shaw, Sheree, Ellen Shipley, Howard Shore, Carly Simon, John Simon, Ray Simpson, Valerie Simpson, Small Voices Calling, Alice Smith, Michael W. Smith, O.C. Smith, Andy Snitzer, Ronnie Spector, Spice Girls, The Spinners, Spyro Gyra, St. Lunatics, Rigo Star, Starpoint, Bobby Stewart, Sting, John Stoddart, Joss Stone, Sugar Beats, Sean Sullivan, Swamp Boogie Queen, Sweet Sensation, Aleks Syntek, The System

T

Taka Boom, Take That, Tamia, Livingston Taylor, Paul Taylor, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ten City, Tony Terry, The The, Lillo Thomas, Wayman Tisdale, Tom Tom Club, Darryl Tookes, Tormento, Liz Torres, Carol Lynn Townes, Tramaine, Artie Traum, Robin Trower, Nerida Tyson-Chew, Tomo in der Mühlen

U

Ultra Naté, Phil Upchurch

V

Marc V., Cindy Valentine, Luther Vandross, Vision A.D., Roch Voisine

W

Georg “Jojje” Wadenius, Lois Walden, Warp 9, Dionne Warwick, Grover Washington, Jr., Martha Wash, Sadao Watanabe, The Waterboys, Russell Watson, Wayquay, Weeks & Co., Michael Whalen, Kirk Whalum, Caron Wheeler, Mark Whitfield, David Wilcox, Wild Orchid, Bernie Williams, Kelli Williams, Vanessa Williams, Joy Winter, Steve Winwood, Peter Wolf, The Wootens, Working Week

X

Xscape

Y

Yasmine

Z

Rachel Z, Zap Mama, Zhané

Bashiri Johnson at Unique Studio.

Solo Albums

His solo albums include:

He also has been involved in the writing, production, and recording of children’s educational and storytelling albums, including:

Filmography

He has contributed to the music in the following films:[1]

He has appeared in the following films:[1]

Awards

He has been nominated by readers of Drum! Magazine and DRUMmagazine.com for two "Drummies.”

In a ModernDrummer reader's poll, Bashiri Johnson was voted in 2011 as a top 5 percussionist.[21]

Products

Percussion Libraries

Educational

The Rhythmic Construction of Dance, Pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop (2005)

Wellness

He is also behind the creation of wellness product supplements and a product and service line.

Bashiri Johnson playing percussion.

Product Endorsements

He has also endorsed percussion products for the following companies:

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bashiri Johnson". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bashiri Johnson". Hammerax.com. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Audix Microphone Endorsement". AudixUSA.com. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Spectrasonics Artisans". Spectrasonics.Net. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Drummerszone.com Bashiri Johnson Biography". Drummerszone. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Cole, George. "Interview: Bashiri Johnson". TheLastMiles.com. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bashiri Johnson Biography". LPmusic.com. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  8. ↑ Bloom, Matt. "Bashiri Johnson: Session Specialist". Drum! Magazine. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Burt Bacharach & Hal David: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song In Performance at the White House". PBS.org. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Motown Sound In Performance at the White House". PBS.org. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  11. ↑ "Cirque du Soleil Music". Channel 9 Perth on YouTube. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 "Art 'N Rhythm". BBE Records. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Bashiri Johnson Discography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  14. ↑ "Bashiri Johnson Credits". Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Musical Aesop". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "Musical Multiplication". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  17. ↑ "Sex and the City 2 Official Motion Picture Soundtrack". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  18. ↑ "Whitney Houston live recording of Concert for South Africa". allwhitney.com. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "Percussionist of the Year Award". Drum!. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  20. ↑ "World Percussionist". World Percussionist Award. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  21. ↑ "2011 Readers Poll Awards". ModernDrummer.com. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "Bashiri Johnson-Bitz and Piecez". Loopmasters.com. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  23. ↑ "Bashiri Johnson-Bitz and Piecez vol 2". Loopmasters.com. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  24. ↑ "Sound Library - Up From the Curb Overview". Kurzweil.com. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Bashiri Johnson". Feelthemusic.org. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  26. ↑ "Gibraltar Hardware Endorsement". gibraltarhardware.com. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  27. ↑ "Sabian Endorsement". Sabian.com. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  28. ↑ "Vic Firth Endorsement". Vicfirth.com. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  29. ↑ "Remo Endorsement". Remo.com. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  30. ↑ "Kickport Endorsement". Kickport.com. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "Drum Tech Endorsement". drumtech.com. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  32. ↑ "Slaperoo Players". Slaperoo.com. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  33. ↑ "B-Rad Percussion Endorsement". b-radpercussion.com. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  34. ↑ "Handsonic Summit". Rolandus.com. Retrieved 10 May 2014.

External links


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