Kashif

Kashif, artist/producer CEO, Founder and Creative Director Music Business 411 From his teenage years as a member of the '70s seminal funk band B.T. Express, through his award-winning albums as a solo artist and his hit-making productions with such major artists as Whitney Houston, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Kenny G., Evelyn "Champagne" King, Melba Moore, Me'lisa Morgan, and Dionne Warwick, Kashif has always been an innovator, a multi-talented individual, whose cutting edge approach has placed him in the upper echelons of contemporary R&B, Pop, and Jazz music. During the early 1980s, while signed as a solo artist with Arista Records, Kashif began using new software and hardware developed by New England Digital for the Synclavier to create unique blends of synthesized and live music. With hit records like "I Just Got To Have You (Lover Turn Me On)", "Stone Love", "Help Yourself To My Love" and the Grammy-nominated instrumental "The Mood", Kashif began creating a solid reputation among record buyers for his distinctive musical sound. His second album, "Send Me Your Love" resulted in two Grammy nominations ("Edgartown Groove", featuring Al Jarreau, and "Call Me Tonight"), while his 1985 release "Condition of the Heart" also yielded another Grammy nomination with "The Movie Song." He produced George Benson and Kenny G., and teamed up with then-newcomer Whitney Houston. The result was Whitney's first across-the-board smash "You Give Good Love", which he also co-wrote, and "Thinking About You", a single track from Whitney's astounding 17-million selling debut-album. Kashif also worked with Whitney Houston on her second, 15-million selling album. He produced and was the legendary Dionne Warwick's duet partner on the hit "Reservations For Two". He also enjoyed a major hit of his own with "Love Changes", a duet with Mel'isa Morgan taken from his best-selling album of the same name, following it with "Kashif", another well-received LP. Kashif has also amassed gold and platinum albums for his work with Evelyn King, George Benson and Kenny G. In the 90s, with an invitation from the famed UCLA Extension program, Kashif created a course called "Contemporary Record Production With Kashif". He wrote and released the now highly acclaimed book Everything You'd Better Know About The Record Industry. The Urban Music Directory, A&R Source Guide, and Music Publisher's Source Guide. Each of these books is designed to assist people that have an interest in the music industry. With a career that spans over four decades, with over 70 million records sold and the most recommended book on the music business, Kashif continues to be one of music industry's most sought after songwriters, producers, and authors.