Kashif -

Kashif Saleem (Dec. 26, 1956 — Sept. 25, 2016) was an American R&B singer, songwriter, and keyboardist from Manhattan who first emerged as a member of B.T. Express, joining the band in 1974 at age 17 and appearing on their first five albums. After leaving the band, he served as Melba Moore‘s keyboardist on her 1981–83 efforts What a Woman Needs and Never Say Never. As a solo artist, he released a self-titled album on Arista in 1983, followed by four further albums on the label between 1984 and 1989.

Background

Kashif was born Michael Jones on Dec. 26, 1956, in Harlem, New York City. Jones entered foster care as an infant after his biological mother went to prison. He lived in eight foster homes, where foster parents subjected him to physical and emotional abuse.

Jones received a $3 song flute in elementary school. Junior-high music teacher Robert Wedlaw guided Jones as he learned trumpet, piano, flute, saxophone, and tuba. He performed at the Copacabana and Lloyd Price’s Turntable by his twelfth birthday. Jones attended Midwood High School while he lived on Jefferson Avenue in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. He played with drummer Leslie Ming in Future 2000, a local band that worked block parties and recorded the singles “Soul Disco” and “Better Days.”

B.T. Express

Jones knew the daughter of B.T. Express manager King Davis from Midwood High School. The classmate referred Jones to Davis, who recruited the keyboardist for B.T. Express, which recruited Jones in late 1975 to add Moog synthesizer and Clavinet to the lineup. Jones brought the composition “Time Tunnel” into sessions for their 1976 release Energy to Burn, his first album with the band. Future 2000 recorded a separate version of “Time Tunnel” for Unity, Sing It, Shout It. He remained with B.T. Express through their 1977/78 albums Function at the Junction and Shout!.

Jones adopted the name Kashif Saleem in 1978 after bassist Jamal Rasool gave him a book of Islamic names. B.T. Express dismissed Kashif that year after he repeatedly pressed the band for more rehearsals and new material. Kashif joined Stephanie Mills as a keyboardist.

Early Productions

Kashif assembled a large band called Stepping Stone and circulated demo recordings to record companies. RCA executive Robert Wright heard the demos and offered Kashif a production opportunity with Evelyn “Champagne” King. Kashif formed Mighty M Productions with producer Morrie Brown and songwriter-keyboardist Paul Lawrence Jones III. He wrote and arranged “I’m in Love” for King. Brown produced the recording with associate producers Kashif and Jones. King took “I’m in Love” to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

Kashif followed with production and songwriting work for Howard Johnson and Melba Moore while the Mighty M team continued work with King. Clive Davis contacted Kashif after the production hits and referenced the earlier Stepping Stone demos. Arista signed Kashif as a solo artist in preparation for his self-titled debut.

Discography: