Omar Hakim
Hakim on the drums
Hakim on the drums
Background information
Born (1959-02-12) February 12, 1959 (age 64)
New York City, New York, United States
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, pop, funk, rock
Occupation(s)Musician, record producer, arranger, composer
Instrument(s)Drums
Years active1980–present

Omar Hakim (born February 12, 1959) is an American drummer, producer, arranger and composer. His session work covers jazz, jazz fusion, and pop music. He has worked with Weather Report, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Chic, Sting, Madonna, Dire Straits, Bryan Ferry, Journey, Kate Bush, George Benson, Miles Davis, Daft Punk, Mariah Carey, The Pussycat Dolls, David Lee Roth, and Celine Dion.

Early life

Hakim was born in New York City on February 12, 1959.[1] His father, Hasaan Hakim, was a trombonist.[1] Omar started playing the drums at the age of five,[2] and first performed in his father's band four or five years later.[1][2]

Career

Omar Hakim performing at Jazztage Görlitz, 01 June 2012

Hakim first came to major attention backing Carly Simon in 1980, and joined Weather Report in 1982.[2] He played drums on David Bowie's most commercially successful album, 1983's Let's Dance, as well as the follow-up, Tonight, in 1984. Bowie described Hakim as "a fascinating drummer, with impeccable timing" and "always fresh in his approach".[3]

In the ends of 1984, Hakim joined Dire Straits as drummer while recording their fifth album Brothers in Arms. Hakim temporarily replaced the band's then-permanent drummer Terry Williams, when his performance was felt to be unsuitable for the desired sound of the album after most of the album tracks had been recorded.[4] Hakim re-recorded all the drum tracks on the album within three days and then left for other commitments. Hakim and Williams are both credited on the album, however all of the drumming on the final album was performed by Hakim with the exception of the improvised crescendo at the beginning of “Money for Nothing”.[5][6][7]

Hakim was also part of the band for Sting's album The Dream of the Blue Turtles, which was released in June 1985.[2]

"By this time, Hakim was teaching himself to program drum machines, which put him in even greater demand as a pop, rock, and R&B session musician, and landed him work with Madonna."[2] He kept working in jazz fusion, playing with Roy Ayers, George Benson, Miles Davis, Lee Ritenour, Joe Sample, David Sanborn, and John Scofield across the 1980s and 1990s.[2] His debut album as leader, Rhythm Deep, was released in 1989, also featured his singing, and was nominated for a Grammy Award.[2]

In the 1990s, Hakim developed further in electronic percussion, which gave him more opportunities as a session musician: he recorded with pop stars Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Jewel.[2] His jazz career had faded by the mid-1990s.[2] His second album as leader, The Groovesmith, was released in 2000.[2]

On June 18, 2015, Journey announced that Hakim would replace longtime drummer Deen Castronovo on their North American tour after Castronovo was arrested for domestic violence in Salem, Oregon.[8]

Hakim was featured on the cover of Modern Drummer in 2014,[9] and was on the cover of DrumHead in 2017.[10]

Hakim became the Chairman of the Percussion Department of Berklee College of Music in 2017, replacing the previous Department Chair, John Ramsey.[11]

On September 3, 2022, Omar appeared at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium performing on sets with Nile Rodgers, Josh Homme, Chris Chaney, Gaz Combes, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush, Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde and Foo Fighters members.[citation needed]

Television

Between 1988 and 1989 Hakim appeared regularly as the house band drummer in The Sunday Night Band during the first half season of the acclaimed music performance program Sunday Night on NBC late-night television.[12] After being temporarily replaced by drummer J. T. Lewis for the remainder of that season, Hakim reappeared in the band for the second season in the fall of 1989, when the program returned under the new name Night Music.[13]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As a member

Great Jazz Trio
with Hank Jones and John Patitucci

As sideman

References

  1. ^ a b c Smith, Gareth Dylan (October 4, 2012). "Hakim, Omar". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2228366.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Huey, Steve. "Omar Hakim". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  3. ^ "David Bowie: A Different View". Modern Drummer. January 11, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  4. ^ "How Dire Straits Shattered Expectations With 'Brothers in Arms'". Ultimateclassicrock.com. May 13, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "How Dire Straits Shattered Expectations with 'Brothers in Arms'". May 13, 2015.
  6. ^ CLASSIC TRACKS: Dire Straits 'Money For Nothing'. soundonsound.com
  7. ^ Strong, M.C. (1998) The Great Rock Discography, p. 207.
  8. ^ "Journey Drummer Booted From Tour". inquisitr.com. June 22, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  9. ^ "Omar Hakim Modern Drummer ON THE COVER". Drumhead Magazine. October 1, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "Issue 63: Omar Hakim". Drumhead Magazine. October 1, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  11. ^ Balkin, Nick (August 16, 2017). "Omar Hakim Named Chair of Berklee's Percussion Department". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  12. ^ Sunday Night closing credits, episodes #104 (1988), #113 (1989)
  13. ^ Night Music closing credits, episodes #201 (1988), #205 (1989).
  14. ^ a b "Omar Hakim | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 31, 2018.

External links

Chic
Weather Report
Journey
The Pussycat Dolls
Authority control databases
Categories