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Ming, Leslie (17th November 1951-Present)

He is a drummer, percussionist, vocalist, songwriter and programmer born in Brooklyn, New York.

During the mid 1970s he became a member of the successful chart group B.T. Express, who had already seen success with the chart hits “Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied)” and “Express” as well as several others.  He would later work throughout the 1980s with his co-band member Kashif  in his production studio where he became a session drummer and programmer on several albums.

In 1983 he began a three-year stint as a member of the group Mtume and performed on their biggest hit “Juicy Fruit” the same year he joined.

He released his co-written “How I Wish You Knew I Cared” in the mid-1990s and it has since appeared on the compilation albums Funk & Boogie From the Great White North and Love Disco Style.

In 1996 he joined up with a group of musicians in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and they put together the reggae band Anthem who have since released the 2000 album Serious, the 2002Good To Be There and the 2004 Are You Ready?

Working with many other bands, musicians and singers during the course of his career, he has worked with Will Downing, Charles Earland, Kenny G, Debbie Gibson, Gladys Knight, Little Steven, Melba Moore, the O’Jays and The Spinners to name just a few.

The albums he has appeared on are many but a select few include In Your Eyes by George Benson, Energy to Burn, Function at the Junction and Shout! by B.T. Express, Abstract Emotionsby Randy Crawford, Just Like the First Time by Freddie Jackson, Get Loose by Evelyn King, Madonna by Madonna and the soundtrack of Panther.  Today he can still be seen performing in over 200 shows a year with Anthem.

Mtume Recordings
Juicy Fruit (James Mtume )
Juicy Fruit Part II (Reprise)(James Mtume )

Here he is drumming on “This House is Smokin'” by B.T.Express…

Sources:

  1. http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/BT%20Express.html
  2. http://www.dustygroove.com/browse.php?kwfilter=STN&incl_oos=1&incl_cs=1
  3. http://www.drummerszone.com/artists/artist.php?artistNR=ed6688fdbeed4359cd167279947bf865
  4. http://mog.com/music/Mtume/biography
  5. http://funkymusic.tripod.com/bte/bt.html
  6. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kpfixqyaldfe~T1
  7. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:hzfexzykldde
  8. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hifrxqtgldje~T4
  9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_(Little_Steven_album)
  10. http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Leslie%20Ming:1927163270
  11. http://www.keuka.edu/communications/KCcurrents/090806/curtain.htm