Sekou Bunch Biography

B I O G R A P H Y

S e k o u B u n c h

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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

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 Music Entertainment,
with George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Boney James, Angela Winbush, Everette Harp, 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.

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!