Bashiri Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bashiri Johnson
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 12, 1955 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | World, soul, pop, jazz, R&B, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Percussionist, songwriter, producer, programmer, composer, vocalist, educator |
| Instruments | Percussion |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Labels | Life in Rhythm Media, BBE Music |
| Associated acts | Michael Jackson, Cirque du Soleil, Roots 'N Rhythm, Whitney Houston, Steve Winwood, Madonna, Sting, Village People |
Bashiri Johnson (born May 12, 1955) is an amazing American musician. He is a percussionist, which means he plays instruments like drums, congas, and shakers. You might have heard his music in many places! He has played on countless songs, in commercials, movies, TV shows, video games, and live concerts.
Bashiri is known as one of the most recorded percussionists in the music world. He has worked with famous artists like Luther Vandross, Miles Davis, and Patti LaBelle. He has also performed live on stage with stars such as Sting, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin, and Steve Winwood.
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A Musical Journey
Bashiri Johnson's love for music and percussion started when he was very young. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in the 1960s. His mother says he began drumming even in pre-school! He would drum on desks and furniture, sometimes even making too much noise in class.
As he grew up in the 1960s and 70s, Bashiri was inspired by many popular musicians and percussionists. Some of his biggest influences included artists like Sly, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, James Brown, and Tito Puente.
Bashiri learned about percussion in many ways. He played in high school bands and took lessons at places like Jazzmobile and the Dance Theater of Harlem. He also learned from a teacher named Olatunji. A very important part of his early career was a three-year mentorship with a musician named Mtume. During this time in the 1970s, Mtume taught Bashiri not only how to play percussion but also about the music business and how to record music in a studio. This led to his first professional recording session for a song by Stephanie Mills, which became a hit!
Working with Music Stars
Bashiri's career grew very quickly in the 1970s and 80s. He helped create hit songs for artists like Luther Vandross and Madonna. Since then, Bashiri has recorded on hundreds of albums. He has worked with some of the most famous artists in the world.
He was a percussionist in Whitney Houston's band for 20 years! He also played for Michael Jackson in his "This Is It" band. Bashiri has even performed for important leaders, like Nelson Mandela in South Africa. He also played at the 2013 Presidential Inauguration in the United States. He has performed at the White House twice for special music events.
Today, Bashiri Johnson continues to be very busy. He was part of the Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour with Cirque du Soleil. He also writes, produces, and performs music for many different projects. He has his own production company called Bashman Productions. He also has a record label, Life in Rhythm Media, and a recording studio called The Lab-Brooklyn. Through his studio, Bashiri has recorded percussion for artists like Herbie Hancock, Barbra Streisand, and George Benson.
Bashiri Johnson also loves to share his knowledge with young people. He gives special percussion workshops, lectures, and master classes.
Awards and Recognition
Bashiri Johnson has been recognized for his amazing talent. Readers of Drum! Magazine and DRUMmagazine.com nominated him for two "Drummies" awards:
- 2010 Percussionist of the Year
- 2011 World Percussionist
In a poll by ModernDrummer magazine, Bashiri Johnson was voted as one of the top 5 percussionists in 2011.
Film and TV Work
Bashiri Johnson has also worked on many movies and TV shows. He has appeared in films like:
- This Is It (2009)
- Get Him to the Greek
- Whitney Houston: Concert for South Africa
He has also contributed his music to many other films, including Mission Impossible, Godzilla, and Sex and The City 2.
Images for kids
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Bashiri Johnson performing live.
