SEKOU BUNCH

Sekou Bunch was born and raised in New York City in a household filled with the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis, James Brown, The Jackson Five, Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk,Mongo Santamaria and many other artists that would be inspirations to him later in life. Sekou's mother encouraged his interest in the arts in hopes that he would become her little Picasso.

At the age of 8, Sekou's first interest in the arts manifested itself in his work as a still-life and portrait artist. One of his paintings, an oil of the Brooklyn Bridge, was chosen for display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  But music had more of an impact on Sekou, especially the music of James Brown. Sekou and two of his brothers started a James Brown dance review, along with his brothers singing group named, the Black Executives and began entering local talent contests, often winning first place awards. It is hereby noted that Sekou Bunch was one of the dancing pioneers of what would come to be known as Break Dancing.

Around 1974 my mother bought me a bass. I had seen my uncle's guitar when I was about 8 or 9. I remember when I looked at the guitar in the case; I don't think I had ever seen a guitar before I saw that one.  It had curves, it had strings and it touched my spirit in such a way that I wanted to play it.  Even though I was still dancing I wanted to play that guitar. So I asked my uncle to teach me. He tried to teach me chords and I thought it was a little hard to learn, so I asked him if there was something else I could play. He told me to try the bass and the rest is history," Sekou recalls.

By the age of 14, with a promising career as a dancer and commercial artist, Sekou realized his destiny as a musician and started playing the electric bass. Under the direction of his uncle, Ralph Bunch, Sekou began playing local gigs and jam sessions.  At age 17, Sekou teamed up with GRP artist, Tom Browne and he recorded with Browne on the best selling funk classic LP "Funkin for Jamaica", which awarded Sekou his first RIAA Certified Gold Record. Sekou also co-wrote the hit “Thighs High” with Browne.

Sekou would later move to Los Angeles where he met the late George Howard, who he toured and recorded a host of records with.  Sekou then collaborated with producers Angela Winbush and Ronald Isley to record on Stephanie Mills hit "Something In the Way You Make Me Feel". Sekou was later hired as musical director and co-producer for the Isley Brothers where he served with distinction for 18 plus years. Sekou has the honor of also being coined a member of Quincy Jones  "A Team" along with session greats John Robinson, Gregg Phillinganes Nathan East and Paul Jackson, Jr.

Television viewers around the world were introduced to supreme bassist Sekou Bunch with the premiere of the CBS reality series Survivor  Cook Islands, the 13th installment of the highly rated Survivor program. Sekou (which means leader and warrior), at age 45, was the oldest of the 20 contestants who vied for the million dollar prize in what was originally presented as a war between the races as the 20 contestants were segregated by race into 4 separate tribes: black, white, Asian and Latino. Sekou was the first person voted off the show. What seemed to be the end of Sekou was merely the beginning of an entirely new chapter in the evolving story of this talented and accomplished musician, songwriter, producer and sometime actor.

"Being the first one voted off didn't faze me. I felt victorious. I was given such a great opportunity and the experience of a lifetime. I was chosen and I felt that I did my part. What was more important to me was not being voted off but being asked to be on the show in the first place," says Sekou. 

The producers of Survivor join a long list of collaborators that Sekou has worked with over his distinguished music career including: Quincy Jones, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Roger Daltry, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, the late Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, Paul Anka, George Benson, Wayne Shorter, the late George Howard, Tom Browne, the Winans, Lionel Richie, Toni Braxton, Freddie Hubbard, the Isley Brothers, Roberta Flack, Liza Minneli and the Tonight Show band just to provide a partial list.

Sekou has acted in "Byrd", "Coming to America" and he has come full circle with "Dreamgirls," having played bass in the orchestra pit at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway for the original stage production in 1981 and he appears now in the 2006 film starring Beyonce and Jamie Foxx.  In 2005 Sekou had the pleasure of working on the Hurricane Katrina Tribute with Bebe Winans and the Tribute to Luther Vandross CD with Kirk Whalum and Lalah Hathaway.

Most recently Sekou has completed his new CD entitled "The Next Level" featuring recording artists such as; George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Boney James, Angela Winbush, Everett Harp, Sheila E., Rodney Franklin and several other major artists..

"It has been a rewarding and uplifting experience to work with so many great artists and I have chosen to include a portion of them on this new CD. I have worked with too many artists to include them all on this CD but I was able to get access to some of the best that were available," says Sekou. 

The combined experience and knowledge of this impressive musical pedigree has prepared Sekou well for his bold step to The Next Level!  Sekou's new CD could be characterized as a "musical ricochet" or a  re-conquest of sorts. 

Sekou is seeking to put the emphasis back on the music and musicians with "The Next Level."