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James Mtume, born on January 3, 1946, in Philadelphia, was an influential American jazz and R&B musician, songwriter, record producer, activist, and radio personality. He was raised in a musical family, with his father and uncles forming the band "The Heath Brothers." In the 1960s, Mtume studied percussion and later acquired guitar skills, leading him to collaborate with notable artists such as Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, and Freddie Hubbard. He became the percussionist for Miles Davis, where he formed a songwriting partnership with guitarist Reggie Lucas. Together, they wrote several tracks for various artists between 1977 and 1982, including the classic "I Never Knew Love Like This Before" for Stephanie Mills. Mtume's innovative sounds were showcased in his own project, the band Mtume, which featured the talented vocalist Tawatha Agee. Their first major success came with the title track "Juicy Fruit" from their second album. In 1984, Mtume released "You, Me and He," which is considered his ultimate album, characterized by a sparse, minimalistic heavy percussion-based funk sound. He continued to explore new musical directions with the 1986 album "Theatre of the Mind," which featured protest songs addressing the influence of media on music. However, in 1987, Mtume decided to step away from the music scene, expressing his discontent with the industry's focus on quick profits and trends over musical value

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