Ayodele Maakheru

Musician, songwriter, performer and teacher : guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric bass, harmonica, ukulele, djembe drum, shakere and voice.

-  10 year student of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music (With instructors Gene Pacelli/guitar & Scott O‘Neal/music theory & composition), attended City College of New York (With instructor John Lewis) for 2 years, studying music and nursing, 1 year at Brooklyn College (With instructor Verna Gillis) for ethnomusicology & 2 years of percussion study with Baba Olatunji.

- Teaches in New York for The Council for Living Music & The Midori Foundation. Subjects taught: guitar, mandolin, banjo, electric bass, ukulele, theory/composition, string ensemble, vocal music & instrument building. Gave numerous cultural art presentations, demos and lectures at schools, libraries, museums, hospitals, theatres, television and radio.

- Performed, toured & recorded with jazz artists Shihib Leroy Nelson, Lionel Hampton, Randy Weston, Jaki Byard, Frank Wess, Grady Tate, Sir Roland Hanna, Lester Bowie, Tulivu Cumberbatch, Ray Holman, Ornette Coleman, Henry Threadgill and Rashid Ali. With performers Donna McKechnie, Diahann Carroll, Johnny Brandon, Eartha Kitt, Gregory Hines, Linda Hopkins, Ruth Brown, Whitney Houston, Phylicia Rashad, Regina Belle, Melba Moore, Savion Glover, Leslie Uggams, Fred Ho’s Martial Arts Ballet, Nona Hendrix, Marieann Meringolo, Rhythm Nation Band & The Fifth Dimension; Performed with The New York Philharmonic, The Queens Symphony & Unity of NY.

-  Appeared on stage and in the orchestras of many Broadway shows. HALLELUIAH BABY, The WIZ, A CHORUS LINE,

ME & MY GIRL, WILD PARTY,  BLACK & BLUE, JELLY‘S LAST JAM, THE FULL MONTY, HARLEM SONG & FROM MY HOMETOWN. The Broadway & touring companies of BRING IN DA NOISE/BRING IN DA FUNK & The BOY‘S CHOIR of HARLEM. Musical Director for BLACK ORPHEUS at the Crossroads Theatre & Saundra McClain's SPUNK.  Appeared with Miriam Makeba, Samite of Uganda, Maurice Peress/ Royal Palais Orchestra & The Clef Club, Gunther Schuller’s New England Ragtime Ensemble, the Urban Bush Women’s film & stage production of PRAISE HOUSE, Tiye Giraud’s DIRTY DISHY DIVINE and the television orchestra for the “Essence Awards”.  Performed on the “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno & “Good Day NY”. Featured soloist at Carnegie Hall, appeared on screen & soundtrack of the films THE SINGING BIOLOGIST, EVERY DAY & THE LAST 5 YEARS. On-stage banjoist/guitarist in the opera “Regina”(American Symphony Orchestra w/Leon Botstein conducting).

 Broadway Blockbusters Theatre Co. orchestras of GREASE, GODSPELL, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, ALADDIN, SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK, OKLAHOMA, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ, FAME & AMERICAN FANTASY

 - Bandleader for ANOTHER COUNTRY, Ayo Maak‘s Jazz Pack, Windsong String Quartet . Released 3 CDs of music entitled SUNSHIP, DISTANT TRAVELER & ANOTHER COUNTRY. 

2004 recipient of Bronx Council on the Arts, BRIO Award for songwriter and a 2004 recipient of ASCAP songwriter award.

 Mail: Maakheru Music, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., website www.MaakheruMusic.net

Member of American Federation of Musicians since 1979; Member of ASCAP

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