James Mtume, seasoned musician who performed in Miles Davisโ seminal fusion band from 1971 to 1975 and later had hits with his own eponymous group, is dead.
He died at the age 76.
Lisa Lucas, the daughter of Mtumeโs late creative partner Reggie Lucas, in a Tweet this morning confirmed his death.
“So much loss. So much grief. Rest in power to Uncle Mtume. My late fathers partner in crime, the co-creator of the songs of my life (and about my birth!). He was essential part of the life of the man who made me, therefore me too. Gone now. He will be dearly, eternally missed,” she said.
The American jazz musician appeared on 80 albums with a wide variety of other notable musicians, including Duke Ellington, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Roberta Flack, and Lonnie Liston Smith
Mtume was born James Heath Jr., the son of jazz saxophonist Jimmy Heath, in Philadelphia. He was raised by his mother Bertha Forman and pianist James โHen Gatesโ Forman, who played in Charlie Parkerโs band.
In 1978 Mtume formed his self-named โsophistifunkโ R&B-jazz ensemble with Lucas and vocalist Tawatha Agee, releasing the albums โKiss This World Goodbyeโ (1978), โIn Search of the Rainbow Seekersโ (1980), โJuicy Fruitโ (1983), โYou, Me and Heโ (1984, also the title of their second biggest single), and โTheater of the Mindโ (1986).
After the band split in the late 1980s, Mtume maintained his profile in activist causes as well as music, working as a producer on such projects as Mary J. Bligeโs 1997 โShare My Worldโ album, K-Ci and Jo-Joโs โLove Alwaysโ and R. Kellyโs โFreak Tonight,โ along with working as an on-air radio personality for New York Cityโs KISS 98.7 FM.
