Legacy Recordings

Raised on bebop, identity politics and Philly soul, percussionist James Mtume grew the seeds of New Jack Soul in synthesized soil and nasty funk. Son of saxophonist Jimmy Heath, Mtume joined Miles Davis’ revolutionary electric sessions and later wrote and produced ’70s hits like “The Closer I Get To You” for Roberta Flack. Catching Stevie Wonder’s Moog breeze and the Chic wave, he spliced progressive, rhythm-driven funk with New York’s sex and excess. Few bands emerged from the disco daze with the flavor that ripened into “Juicy Fruit.”

(J. Mtume); Produced by James Mtume ; James Mtume, lead and background vocals, keyboards; Tawatha Agee, lead and background vocals, percussion; Ed (Tree) Moore, guitars; Philip Fields, keyboards, background vocals; Raymond Jackson, bass, background vocals; Rec. East Orange, N.J., 1982. Epic single 03578; P 1983 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

Juicy Fruit by Mtume