Kwame Heshimu
Kwame Heshimu (born January 17, 1954) is a Jamaican-American musician, songwriter, and adjunct instructor at the Pratt Institute's School of Liberal Arts & Sciences. He formed the band Full Hand in 1975 and released a solo album, Follow I, in 1980, which received high praise. Early lifeKwame Heshimu was born on January 17, 1954, in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica to a Cuban father and a Jamaican Maroon mother.[1][2] At the age of sixteen, he became musical director of "Sing Out Jamaica", a group that toured in several Caribbean island nations and enjoyed mild success.[1][3] He briefly moved to New York City for a year before returning to Jamaica in order to work with Augustus Pablo and Linval Thompson on several songs at the Harry J Studio in Kingston.[1][3] In 1974, once production on each record had finished, Heshimu began studying at the Hartford Conservatory of Music in Hartford, Connecticut.[3] He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English (specialization in writing) from New York University.[2] CareerFull Hand BandUpon his return to New York in 1976, Heshimu formed the Full Hand Band alongside fellow Jamaican Winston Gardner and six Americans.[3][4] Proctor Lippincott of The New York Times wrote, "Mr. Heshinu's tenor voice can be caressing and seductive, like Smokey Robinson's, more often carries a raspy, staccato urgency reminiscent of the vocal style of Mr. Marley, who has been a big influence".[4] For the first few years of its existence, the band played primarily in Long Island clubs and grew a cult following.[4] Al Anderson of The Wailers joined the band in 1977 and Heshimu would leave the following year to found a record label, Chanti Music.[1][3] Solo careerAfter leaving Full Hand in order to "reassess his direction", Heshimu founded Chanti Music in 1978.[1][3] It was while with the label that he wrote, produced, and arranged three singles, two being sung by himself and another sung by Nadine Hart.[1] Polydor Records signed Heshimu in 1980, making him their first reggae artist.[5][6] Around the same time, he was a songwriter on The Bar-Kays' album, As One.[7] The following November Heshimu released his debut album, Follow I, produced by Lee Jaffe and Karl Pitterson.[3] He announced his intent to tour drummer Balford Breadwood, guitarist Joe Ortiz and ex-Full Hand bassist Winston Gardner.[3] The record was met with generally favorable reviews.[8][9] Adjunct instructorAs of 2025, Heshimu is the adjunct instructor of Humanities and Media Studies and a tutor at the Pratt Institute's School of Liberal Arts & Sciences in Brooklyn.[2] Personal lifeHeshimu's daughter, Kyoko Heshiimu, is a poet and artist based in New York City.[10] He voiced his support of Michael Bloomberg's potential presidential candidacy in 2006 in an interview with Staten Island Advance.[11] Heshimu is not religious, although he has acknowledged Rastafari culture as a major inspiration for his music.[12] References
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