Philadelphia’s very own, Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and activist, James “Mtume” Forman has reportedly passed away at 76.Mtume was a percussionist who’s music catalog consisted of jazz, contemporary R&B and disco-club songs. Born as James Forman, James added “Mtume” to his stage name, meaning “messenger” in Swahili. James received the name Mtume after he joined Hakim Jamal and Maulana Karenga’s US Organization, a Black empowerment group. Mtume saw this as a quintessential name for a singer as he was not afraid to break barriers and deliver messages to all through his musical gifts.
As noted by NBC News, “Mtume’s career began in the 1970’s as a percussionist for Freddie Hubbard and Lonnie Liston Smith. He also worked with Miles Davis on several projects and started making his rounds as a songwriter. Therefore, he became the “secret recipe,” for several pivotal R&B singers’ careers, including Duke Ellington, Phyllis Hyman, Teddy Pendergrass and Mary J. Blige“.
Mtume also made a transitioned from a jazz trailblazer to an R&B pioneer as a way to make himself distinct in the music industry. Mtume teamed up with Reggie Lucas and co-wrote Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway’s smash hit, “The Closer I Get to You,” Stephanie Mills’ Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Never Knew Love Like This”, which won a Grammy for best R&B song and best female vocal R&B performance.
At the time of the report, there is no cause of death.
James Mtume Forman is survived by his children Damu Mtume and Fa Mtume.
R&B Legend, James Mtume Passes Away at 76 was originally published on classixphilly.com