Arthur Jenkins (musician)
Arthur Eugene Jenkins, Jr. (December 7, 1936 – January 28, 2009) was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger and percussionist who worked with many popular music icons such as John Lennon, Harry Belafonte, Bob Marley and Chaka Khan.
Jenkins was born in
Next began a 9-year collaboration as musical director and accompanist to singer Johnny Nash, which included Nash's 1972 smash "I Can See Clearly Now". While with Nash, Jenkins traveled to Jamaica where he also worked on recording projects with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.
Jenkins had now become a much sought-after studio musician, and soon was the arranger for Harry Belafonte, with whom he also recorded and toured. He worked in the same capacity for Patti Austin and Lena Horne, who were co-performers on Belafonte's tours.
Jenkins then joined Antisia Publishing (co-owned by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter), and forged a lifelong friendship and musical partnership with MacDonald, which led to more hit recordings like "The Hustle" with Van McCoy, "Where Is the Love" with Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway and "Just The Two of Us" with Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers.
Jenkins was brought to the attention of John Lennon by
Jenkins also worked on Broadway theatre and lent his distinctive sounds to popular commercials for McDonald's, Chemical Bank and other products. He also released two CDs of his own material, Alone With Arthur and Alone With Arthur Again.
Jenkins died unexpectedly at his Manhattan apartment, aged 73.
Discography
Jenkins began his recording career in 1965 with the Latin Soul album by The Latin Jazz Quintet,[3] and has over a hundred credits to his name.[4]
- For a more complete discography, check out this site : https://www.discogs.com/fr/artist/295134-Arthur-Jenkins?page=1
With Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt
- Sonny Side Up (Verve, 1957)
With Ronnie Foster
- Two Headed Freap (Blue Note, 1972)
With Marlena Shaw
- From the Depths of My Soul (1973)
With John Lennon
- Walls and Bridges (Apple records, 1974)
- Roots: John Lennon Sings the Great Rock & Roll Hits (Adam VIII, 1975)
- Rock 'n' Roll (Apple, 1975)
- Double Fantasy (Geffen, 1980)
- Milk and Honey (Geffen, 1984)
With Yoko Ono
- Feeling the Space (Apple, 1975)
- Season of Glass (Geffen, 1981)
- A Story (Rykodisc, 1997)
With Ron Carter
- Anything Goes (Kudu, 1975)
With Rahsaan Roland Kirk
- Mr. Fathead (Warner Bros., 1976)
With Chaka Khan
References
- ^ a b ""Jenkins, Arthur" by Jenkins, Arthur. Bronx African American History Project". Oral Histories. 14 December 2005. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
- ISBN 0932551513. p. 147
- ^ "The Latin Jazz Quintet* - Latin Soul". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
- ^ "Arthur Jenkins (performance credits)". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-24.