James Mtume Dies: Grammy Winning Songwriter, Chart-Topping Group Leader Was 76
James Mutum, a percussionist who performed in Miles Davis' seminal fusion band from 1971 to 1975 and later hit with his own eponymous group, has died at the age of 76.
The daughter of Matume's late creative partner Reggie Lucas, Lisa Lucas took to Twitter this morning to confirm the musician's passing.
"So much loss. So much sorrow. Rest in power to Uncle Mtum. My late father is a partner in crime, the co-producer of the songs about my life (and my birth!) He was an essential part of the life of the man who Made me, so I am too. Now gone. He'll be missed forever, wrote Lucas.
There is no cause of death at the time of reporting.
Mtume appeared on 80 albums with a wide variety of other notable musicians including Duke Ellington, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Roberta Flack and Lonnie Liston Smith.
Their namesake group Mtume had several #1 hits on the Billboard charts, including the heavily sampled "Juicy Fruit".
During his time with his own group, Mountum also wrote songs for an assortment of artists, including Stephanie Mills' hit single "Never No Love Like This Before", for which she received best R&B songwriting and production. And got a Grammy for Roberta Flack. /Donnie Hathaway singles "The Closer I Get to You" and "Back Together Aga and the Roberta Flack/Donnie Hathaway Singles "The Closer I Get to You" and "Back Together Again".
After Mtum's dissolution, James Mtumum resumed his already prolific production and songwriting career, featuring in R. Writing "Freak Tonight" by Kelly and Mary J. Blige's album, Share My World. He also produced Roy Ayers and the Bar-Keys, and composed the music and theme song for the 1990s television police drama New York Undercover.
