Kashif
Kashif
Kashif was born Michael Jones in 1959 in Brooklyn, NY. Later he took the
Islamic name Kashif Saleem, under which name he became famous. When he was
15 he started his main career as a member of the street funk band
BT-express where he played keyboards. He left the group in 1980, just
before BT-express' disco funk album "1980" was released, and became a
successful producer and songwriter.
In 1981 had Kashif, keyboardist Paul Laurence and producer Morrie Brown
created the production company Mighty M Productions.
Kashif's sound, whether he worked within the Mighty M Productions company
or by himself, was characterized by a clever mix of the soul and R&B
emphasizing much on slick guitar and synth grooves and a clear extension
of the hypnotic SOLAR sound of Leon F. Sylvers III. Despite the appealing
sound Kashif's productions were sometimes a bit to repetitive.
Kashif main producer career started In 81 when he produced the strong
female vocalist Melba Moore's album including the hit "Take my love". In
81 Kashif Saleem, now a Muslim, also wrote and co-produced the hypnotic
"I'm in love" with Evelyn King taken from the album with the same name
that was partly produced by Morrie Brown and Mighty M Productions.
In 82 he produced and wrote the smash hit "So fine" with Howard Johnson
but left him the year after for other engagements. The debut album of
Johnson also included the lovely and soulfully dance gem "So you wanna".
That same year he really was in the middle of the heat. Once again he
produced Melba Moore new album "The other side of the rainbow" with
eternal and great gems like "Love's comin' at cha" and "Mind up tonight".
He wrote also three tracks and co-produced a second album "Get loose" with
Evelyn King including one of the best tracks ever, the brilliant "Love
come down". In addition, Kashif worked as an assistant producer on High
fashion's Popdisco debut album "Feelin' lucky" in 82 under the mighty
wings of Jacques Fred Petrus (see High fashion's full biography at my new
site here). Kashif wrote two tracks on their album including the catchy
"Hold on".
In 83 he produced for the third time an album with Melba Moore "Never say
never" including hits like "Keepin' my lover satisfied" and "Love me
right". In addition to all that he also got time to release his own
brilliant debut album from 83 full of hits like soulfunk inspired "I just
gotta have you (lover turn me on)", "Stone love", and "Help yourself to my
love". In 83 he also was the executive producer of the controversial jazz
musicians Kenny G:s fabulous and dreamlike jazz soul album "G-force" and
the old guitarist George Benson's album "In your eyes" including the hit
"Inside love (so personal)". Kashif did also some work with the young
soulstar Stacy Lattisaw. Since Kashif debut he recorded for Arista until
1985, and then for Capitol in 1986, and finally return to Arista again in
1987.
His final hit was "Love me all over," another duet, this time with Meli'sa
Morgan from 1987. This made it to number two R&B in 1987. The same year he
produced Whitney Houston's album "Whitney" and wrote and produced the
track "Love changes" (a duet Meli'sa and Kashif) on Meli'sa Morgan´s
album, "Good love". In 88 he wrote and produced just another duet (the man
loves duets ;) with Melba Moore, "I'm in love" on her album with the same
name. Kashif took a hiatus from recording in 1990, devoting his time to
holding seminars and conducting classes for aspiring performers about the
music business but he couldn't get his hands from the studio. Because in
1998 he released a souljazz album named "Who loves you" on the UK label
Extension records exclusively for the UK. A soft and gentle piece for more
contemplative moments.
In January 2004 an exlusive 2 CD set release hit the market featuring the
entire first album and 15 new studio songsl! Catch it! ~
Patriks soul funk special
Kashif's discography
A list over his productions as a producer and songwriter (not as a
musician) 1981-2003 as far as I know. If you got anything to add please
feel free to send me an e-mail to: PSFS
Artist
Title
Year & rating
- Productions 1981-2003 (not complete) -
Melba Moore What a women needs (LP) (P&S)1981
Evelyn King I'm in love (LP) (P&S) *1981 ****
TavaresLove line (LP) (S)1981
Average white bandCupid's in fashion (LP) (S)1982
Evelyn King Get loose (LP) (P&S) *1982 ****
High fashion Feelin' lucky (LP) (Co-P&S) *1982 ****
Howard JohnsonKeepin' love new (LP) (P&S)1982 ***
Melba Moore The other side of... (LP) (P&S) *1982 ****
PassionDon't stop my love (LP) (S)1982
ZincStreet level (LP) (S)1982 ***
Alfreda James & Billy RayBack to love (12") (S)1983
George BensonIn your eyes (LP) (S) *1983 ***
KashifKashif (LP) (P&S) 1983 ****
Kenny G G force (LP) (P&S) *1983 ****
Melba Moore Never say never (LP) (P&S)1983
Shawn Jackson Loveline (12") (P&S)1983 ****
KashifSend me your love (LP) (P&S) 1984
Bobby Mardis Keep on (12") (S)1985 *****
Dr. York Don't stop my love (12") (P&S)1985
KashifCondition of the Heart (LP) (P&S)1985
Kenny G Gravity (LP) (P) *1985 ***
Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (LP) (P&S)1985 ****
Lushus Daim & the Pretty vainMore than you can handle (LP) (P&S)1985
George Benson While the city sleeps (LP) (P&S) *1986 ***
Johnny Kemp Johnny Kemp (LP)1986
Stacy Lattisaw Take me all the way (LP) (P&S)1986
Melba Moore A lot of love (LP) (P)1986
Giorge Pettus Giorge Pettus (LP) (P)1986
Troy Johnson Getting a Grip on Love (LP) (P&S)1986
Meli'sa MorganGood love (LP) (P&S)1987 ***
Whitney Houston Whitney (LP) (P) *1987 ***
Dionne Warwick Reservations for two (LP) (P&S)1987
Johnny Kemp Secrets of flying (LP) (EX-P)1988
Melba MooreI'm in love (LP) (P)1988 ***
Debbie Allen Special look (LP) (P)1989
KashifKashif (CD) (P&S) 1989
KashifThe best of Kashf (CD) (P&S) 1992 ****
Coming of ageComing of age (LP) (P)1993
Whitney Houston I have nothing (LP) (P&S) *1993
KashifWho loves you (LP) (P&S) *1998
KashifDefinitive collection (CD) (P&S) *1998
Jermaine Jackson The heritage collection (LP) (P) *2000
Whitney Houston Love Whitney (LP) (P&S) *2001
KashifBest of (CD) (P&S) *2002
KashifMusic from my mind (CD) (P&S) *2003 *****
All original release years
*) In print (P) = Producer (S) = Songwriter Sources: Stéphane
Baratin, Francis Depuydt, Yves Le Page, DJ ED, Michael Krogh and
Ayadi Farid. Copyright © 1999-2005 Legal notice