PROLIFIC PRODUCING & WRITING PHENOM KASHIF IS BACK: New CD, "Music From My Mind," is set for release.
by Kevin Jackson / k.jackson@cwjamaica.com



(Apr. 28, 2003) In the 1980s, Kashif was one of the more prolific rhythm and blues stars of the day. An accomplished singer/songwriter/keyboardist and producer, Kashif is best known for the R&B chart hits "Are You The Woman," "I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)," "Baby Don't Break Your Baby's Heart," "Love The One I'm With (A Lot of Love)," "Love Changes" and the pop smash "Reservations for Two" (with Dionne Warwick).

It has been five years since the release of his "Who Loves You" album on the UK-based Expansion Records imprint. And, now he has a new album that he is confident will be received by the fans he gained over the years, as well as attracting new ones.

A former member of the 1970s group BT Express (known for the hit "Here Comes the Express"), was presented with the opportunity to produce a track for then hot R&B dynamo Evelyn "Champagne" King by an executive at RCA Records. "The record company executive heard my demo and he asked me if I wanted to produce some work for Evelyn. I agreed and that was the start of my songwriting/producing career," Kashif told this writer recently.

Credited for producing King's #1 R&B hits "Love Come Down," "I'm in Love," Kashif later worked with Whitney Houston on her debut 17-million selling disc "Whitney." "I was very fortunate to have had a lot of hits on my own as well as producing for a lot of other artistes, so Clive Davis who was the president of the label that I was on, asked me if I wanted to produce for Whitney Houston. I got a chance to see her, and the song "You Give Good Love" came out of that collaboration and became a big hit for her," reminisced Kashif.

Over the years, Kashif has collaborated with the likes of Melba Moore, Mel'isa Morgan and Dionne Warwick among others. Asked which female artiste was his personal favourite in terms of collaborating, he said "Its hard to pick out a personal favourite because each one of them is so distinctly different. Whitney is like the classic R&B/soul/pop singer and Dionne is the legend. When I was working with her, it brought out so much history and so much with her, that I learnt from her. Whitney had a very unique and youthful persona. Each one had its own unique flavour. I love working with all of them."

These days, Kashif has an interest in some of the new music that has taken onto the airwaves. "I am kinda digging with what's happening with the neo soul thing. It uses the fundamental music skills like melody writing and good rhythm tracks, like the Erykah Badu's, the Musiq Soulchild, and the Jill Scotts," said Kashif.

With five albums released to date, Kashif's new album is due for release any day new. Titled "Music From My Mind," the album according to Kashif, will comprise "real music." "Music that touches your soul and music that helps you through your day. The first single is a remake of Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were." There are also some instrumentals. This album is chockfull of music that I think will be something for a long time to come," explained Kashif. It will be released on his Brooklyn Boy Entertainment imprint.

Part of the vanguard that includes early pioneers Stevie Wonder and Ronnie McNeir and his '80s contemporaries the System, Kashif helped to revolutionize R&B music through the infusion of the then-emerging affordable, MIDI/synth technology of the '80s.

Born Michael Jones in Brooklyn, New York in 1959, Kashif 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. He appeared on the group's early-'80s sides for Columbia Records. Kashif began playing synthesizer bass while on the road with the group.

After leaving the group, Kashif began making demos with the group Stepping Stone. The demos led to his recording contract with Arista Records in 1983. Because of his burgeoning mastery with synthesizers, Kashif was invited to tour with rhythm and blues singer 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-'80s R&B with a fresh synth-based sound. was played by Ira Siegel.

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 - 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 even today.

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, "Baby Don't Break Your Baby's Heart," "Are You the Woman," Condition of the Heart, Love Changes and 1989's Kashif, with the charming 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 ("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."

During 1994, Kashif received an invitation from the famed U.C.L.A. Extension program and created a course called Contemporary Record Production With Kashif. In August 1995, Kashif authored the music industry tome Everything You'd Better Know About the Record Industry as CEO of his Los Angeles-based Brooklyn Boy Books, Entertainment, and Information.

KASHIF WITH A NEW ALBUM! Way Cool!

To this day, I still love him singing on Thinkin' About You with Whitney Houston. I am glad he's back.

"I took my baby for a ride in my daddy's brand new car
Turned on the charm and I got,I got no response..."


y'all remember that jam "Baby Don't Break Your Baby's Heart" from the sumnmer of '84? Love that song!!

DavidEye said:

Love that whole album. "Are You The Woman" And "Send Me Your Love" are two of my favorite slow jams ever!

DavidEye said:

His duet with Mel'isa Morgan "Lova Changes" is a killer, tell me you love it

Harlepolis said:

Yes,that song is da jam!!

I love his entire first album.Remember these jams?...

"Help Yourself To My Love"
"I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)"
"Stone Love"


Kashif had his own distinctive sound.It consisted of synth-heavy grooves,very funky,and lots and lots of lush background vocals,usually singing an irresistible hook (...Ooh lover turn me on...I just gotta have you..come turn me on..ooh lover don't turn me down...I just gotta have you...).His music was very groove-oriented.

DavidEye said:

Of course I do, great picks!

Lala the one who wrote "Stone Love" and the 2 songs in Whitney's debut LP(Thinking About You & You Give Good Love) should've released an LP. The back-up harmonies in "I just Gotta Have You" reminds me alot of MJ. Maan, I wish they remaster his debut LP.

I wish I know the lady who sings with him at the end of "Help Yoself To My Love". I love this song alot lol matta o' fact his 1st album is being played in my car every time I hit the highway at midnight(pure airy music!).

Kashif is responsible for the best song on Whitney's debut album.That song is "Thinking About You"...


"I keep thinking about you baby
Oh,so tell me whatcha gonna do?
Got me thinking about you
All I wanna do,yeah

Just like a river of wine,you intoxicate my mind
I'm thinking about you
Pick me up,let's go down
I'm thinking about it too"

DavidEye said:

The first album was all about "The Mood" That was the shit! I think it won or at the very least was nominated for a Grammy. (best R&B instrumental)

He is Badd.He had alot to do with Kenny G. coming to Arista Records 20 Years Back.Johnny Kemp's "Just Another Lover' back in 86 was the Jam.Loved BT Express.Very Versatile Cat.

intha916 said:

It was nominated thats all.

mistermaxxx said:

I still can't believe that he's from BT Express. The thang that shut me up is reading his name in the credit notes othewise I wouldn't believe that he came from that band.

I mean their stuff are str8 gully funk and raw-produced #s unlike his music. The only thing I could think of when it comes to rawness in his music is the way he produced "Baby Don't Break Yo Baby's Heart" altho its obevious that the MPLS funk sound is all over it.

Speaking of which-I that song's bridge. What does it say?? lol

Harlepolis said:

Technilogy put the BT Express out of Business&also Down-Sized alot of Bands from back in the day.Kashif with a Synth in the 80's knew He had a steady job as did other cats that jumped on board the Synth dominated Era.it kept steady pay days.right place right time.

Does any of you have his 98 Import studio LP "Who Loves You"?? I read couple of reviews in Amazon but I want yo opinions about it. What the atmosphere like?? Is it still 80's produced music or did he bounce 2 another genre??

Holla