Sekou Bunch

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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 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,” Sekou says.Although Sekou’s time on Survivor was short, as a result of his having been on the show, the depth and breadth of his achievements and longevity as a professional musician are now being recognized. As for the show, Sekou has composed an original song entitled “Survivor,” which will be performed on the show’s finale on Sunday, December 17.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, Liza Minneli and the Tonight Show band just to provide a partial list.Sekou has also 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 in the new film starring Beyonce and Jamie Foxx.Sekou most recently worked on the Katrina Tribute with Bebe Winans and the Tribute to Luther Vandross CD with Paul Jackson, Jr., and Lalah Hathaway. He is currently in the studio working on a new CD entitled “The Next Level” on his own label, Ibis Records, with Stevie Wonder, Macy Gray, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Boney James, Angela Winbush, Everette Harp, Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock, Rodney Franklin and several other major artists to be named as they cut their tracks.“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.Sekou’s new CD “The Next Level” could be characterized as a “musical ricochet” or a re-conquest of sorts. In fact, it is a reclamation project dedicated to reclaiming the preeminence of African American musicians at the forefront of contemporary music. Sekou is seeking to put the emphasis back on the music and musicians with “The Next Level.” As we examine where Sekou is going it is important to see where he has been.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, 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 be come 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 dance review with the group name 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 pioneers of what would come to be known as Break Dancing.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.“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 that 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.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 for the Isley Brothers where he served with distinction for 11 years. Sekou has the honor of being a member of Quincy Jones’ “A Team” along with session greats John Robinson, Gregg Phillinganes and Paul Jackson, Jr.The combined experience and knowledge of this impressive musical pedigree has prepared Sekou well for his bold step to the next level!