James Mtume

James Mtume
James Mtume
	Mtume in 2021
Background information
Birth name	James Forman
Also known as	Mtume
Born	January 3, 1946; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 9, 2022 (aged 76); South Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	R&B; soul; post-disco; funk; gospel; jazz;
Occupations	Singer; songwriter; multi-instrumentalist; radio personality; record producer;
Instruments	Vocals, percussion, keyboards
Years active	1961–2022
Labels	Blue Note; Columbia; Capitol; Mainstream; Prestige; Third Street; Epic; RCA;

James Forman (January 3, 1946 – January 9, 2022),^[2] known professionally as Mtume or James Mtume, was an American jazz and R&B musician, songwriter, record producer, activist, and radio personality.^[1]

He came to prominence as a jazz musician, working with Miles Davis between 1971 and 1975.^[1] Mtume's R&B group, also called Mtume, is best known for the 1983 R&B hit song "Juicy Fruit", which has been repeatedly sampled.^[1] Mtume the band also had a top-five R&B hit with the single "You, Me, and He".^[1]

Life and career

Mtume was born James Forman on January 3, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[2] He was the son of jazz saxophonist Jimmy Heath,^[3] and was raised by his mother, Bertha Forman, and his stepfather, a Philadelphia local jazz pianist, James "Hen Gates" Forman.^[4]

He grew up in a musical environment with jazz musicians frequenting his parents' house. He learned to play piano and percussion; however, from his teenage years he was pursuing athletics as a swimmer, having achieved the title of the first black Middle Atlantic AAU champion in the backstroke, and in 1966 he entered Pasadena City College on a swimming scholarship.^[3]

In 1966, Mtume joined the US Organization, a Black empowerment group founded by Hakim Jamal and Maulana Karenga, while a student at Pasadena City College. Mtume received his name, which means "messenger" in Swahili, from Karenga who gave members of the organization names to match their personality traits.^[5] He was part of the group which celebrated the first Kwanzaa in 1966. In 1967 he co-edited The Quotable Karenga with Clyde Halisi, which has been called "the best expression of Karenga's ideas".^[6] Mtume left the US Organisation in 1969.^[7] In 1995 he met Louis Farrakhan and remained close to him until the end of his life.

Mtume's professional debut was on Kawaida, a 1969 album by his uncle, Albert Heath.^[8] His first recording released under his own name was Alkebu-lan: Land of the Blacks, recorded live at The East, a Black nationalist community arts and education center in Brooklyn, and released on Strata-East Records.^[8] Both albums were intended to merge free jazz and cultural identity.^[9]

After his return from the West Coast he moved to New York City and had his first gigs as a sideman for McCoy Tyner (Asante album), Freddie Hubbard, and Miles Davis, whose group he wound up joining and playing in for the next few years.^[3]

With fellow Mtume band member Reggie Lucas, he won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for writing and producing Stephanie Mills' top-ten hit "Never Knew Love Like This Before", for which she also won a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.^[10]

In 1994, Mtume created music for the show New York Undercover while also creating musical appearance opportunities for other artists on the show.^[2]

In July 2018, Mtume filed a lawsuit against Sony Music/Epic Records, hoping to reclaim the rights for two albums and his hit single "Juicy Fruit". Mtume claimed to hold the sole copyright of these recordings, while Sony insisted that the albums were made for hire.^[11]

Personal life and death

Mtume was the father of music producers Damu Mtume and Fa Mtume.^[12] He died in South Orange, New Jersey on January 9, 2022, at the age of 76.^[1]^[2] His death occurred six days following his birthday.

Discography

As leader

Alkebu-Lan: Land of the Blacks (Strata-East, 1972) - with Mtume Umoja Ensemble (Carlos Garnett - Tenor & Flute, Leroy Jenkins - Violin, Gary Bartz- Alto and Soprano Sax, Stanley Cowell - Piano, Buster Williams - Bass, Billy Hart - Drums, and Joe Lee Wilson, Eddie Micheaux, and Andy Bey - Vocals. Yusef Iman and Weusi Kuumba - Poets.
Rebirth Cycle (Third Street, 1977) - with Jean Carn, Stanley Cowell, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jimmy Heath, Cecil McBee, Leroy Jenkins, and Azar Lawrence.
Kiss This World Goodbye (Epic, 1978) - with Mtume
In Search of the Rainbow Seekers (Epic, 1980) - with Mtume
Juicy Fruit (Epic, 1983) - with Mtume
You, Me and He (Epic, 1984) - with Mtume
Theater of the Mind (Epic, 1986) - with Mtume