Kashif Saleem (1959–2016), singer and songwriter
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2 min readKashif Saleem, a singer-songwriter,multi-instrumentalist,and record producer, died Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Los Angeles, California, according to multiple news sources. Saleem was 56.
Saleem was born Michael Jones Dec. 26, 1959, in New York City92s Harlem neighborhood. After becoming interested in music at a young age, he learned to play multiple instruments as a teenager. Around that time, he joined the funk band B.T. Express, which had two U.S. No. 1 R&B hits in 1974 with 93Do It (91Til You92re Satisfied)94 and 93Express.94 Jones, who had changed his name to Kashif Saleem after studying Islam, left B.T. Express in 1978. He then backed the Grammy-winning singer Stephanie Mills on keyboards.
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Saleem went solo in in 1983, supported by Arista Records. His strongest singles as a solo artist included the top-10 R&B hits 93I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)94 (1983),93Baby Don92t Break Your Baby92s Heart94 (1984), and 93Personality94(1989). He teamed with multiple singers including Melba Moore, Dionne Warwick, and Whitney Houston.
Two of his albums reached the top 10 on the R&B chart: 93Kashif,94 his 1983 debut album, and 93Send Me Your Love94 the following year.
Friends and fans of the artist shared their condolences on social media.
932016 has been absolutely devastating,94 wrote the singer Chaka Khan in a post on Facebook. 93My prayers and condolences go out to Kashif92s family.94
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