James Mtume, the renowned producer and jazz musician who is also the lead singer of the R&B group called Mtume died at age 75.
Although the cause of his death remains unknown, Mtume’s demise was reported by Faulu Mtume, his son to Pitchfork.
The jazz musician whose biological name is James Heath Jr. was born in 1946 to Jimmy Heath, a jazz saxophonist. James Heath Jr. died on the 9th of January.
As a jazz enthusiast, James later pioneered the R&B and disco group Mtume, which has since become legendary. The name is derived from the Swahili word for messenger.
In the late 1960s, Mtume became a member of a US Organization keen on empowering Blacks which later framed Kwanzaa, to recognize the Black tradition and customs.
James composed amazing songs in his lifetime a typical example is “You, Me and He”. He has worked with many prolific artists such as Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, and Pharaoh Sanders. In the track “Juicy Fruit” by Notorious B.I.G, James is believed to be the brain behind the song.
Artists and fans have been paying tribute to Mtume, hailing him as “one of the greats” as they look back at the legacy that the legendary musician left.
