Omar Hakim Biography
Omar Hakim is a renown American jazz artist, jazz fusion and pop music drummer, recording artist, producer, arranger as well as a composer.
He is a Grammy Nominee for his 1989 Album Rhythm Deep. Over the years, he has collaborated with prolific artists such as Celine Dion, David Bowie, Sting, Madonna, Dire Straits, Journey, Kate Bush, George Benson, Miles Davis, Mariah Carey as well as Daft Punk.
Omar Hakim Age
Hakim was born on February 12, 1959, in New York.
Omar Hakim Drummer
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.
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.
Omar Hakim Berklee
Hakim, chair of Berklee’s Percussion Department, is one of the world’s most sought-after drummers, both on the performance stage and in the recording studio. He has worked with the biggest names in music across a multitude of genres, from R&B/pop (Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan ‘04H, Daft Punk, D’Angelo) and jazz (Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock ‘86H, Joe Sample) to rock (David Bowie ‘99H, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger), country (Jerry Douglas), hip-hop (Queen Latifah), and more.
In the 1980s, Hakim toured and recorded extensively with Wayne Shorter ‘99H, Joe Zawinul ’59 ‘91H, and Victor Bailey in Weather Report, having been recommended for the role by none other than Miles Davis. In the 1990s, he toured and recorded extensively with Madonna. One of the earliest adopters of the home studio, Hakim was among the first to use Roland’s V-Drums. Also a composer, vocalist, and producer, he has released several albums of his own music with the Omar Hakim Experience and in a group with his wife, Rachel Z, the Trio of Oz.
Hakim began playing the drums in the Queens, New York neighborhood of St. Albans at age 5 and started touring with his father, the esteemed jazz trombonist Hasan Hakim, at age 10, which afforded him the opportunity to learn from Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, and Clyde Lucas.
Omar Hakim Net Worth
Hakim is American Drummer who has a net worth of $100,000 – $1M at the age of 60. Omar’s income source is mostly from being a successful Drummer. He is from New York City. Jazz drummer is known for working with such artists as Mariah Carey, Weather Report and Daft Punk.
Omar Hakim Album
In December 1989, Hakim released his first solo album, Rhythm Deep, which occupied a middle ground between jazz, R&B, and pop, and gave him a chance to showcase his vocal abilities as well. The results earned Hakim a Grammy nomination in early 1990.
Omar Hakim Early Career
Upon graduating from the New York School of Music and Art, Omar Hakim began his career recording with various pop and soul groups making a few bucks while also getting his exposure and perfecting his skill set. His father, Hasan Hakim, was also an instrumentalist and had played trombone for both Duke Ellington and Count Basie who were both prolific jazz artists.
Omar Hakim Jazz Life
Hakim appeared in a video with Mainieri called The Jazz Life and began working with singer Carly Simon through Mainieri and credits the jazz vibraphonist for giving him his first break in 1980. Hakim first came to major attention as a member of Weather Report.
Omar Hakim & David Bowie
in 1983, Hakim played drums on David Bowie’s most commercially successful album, 1983’s Let’s Dance, as well as the follow-up, Tonight, in 1984. Hakim was described by Bowie in an interview as “a fascinating drummer, with impeccable timing” and “always fresh in his approach”.
Omar Hakim & Dire Straits
In the mid-1980s, Hakim was invited to join Dire Straits as an in house drummer while recording their fifth album titled Brothers in Arms. Hakim temporarily replaced Terry Williams, the band’s then-permanent drummer -when his performance was felt to be unsuitable for the desired sound of the album after most of the album tracks had been recorded. Omar re-recorded all the drum tracks on the album in two days and leaving after for other commitments. Hakim and Williams are both credited on the album although Williams’ only contribution was the improvised crescendo at the start of “Money for Nothing” and Williams was brought back for the music videos and the world tour.
Omar Hakim & Sting
When Sting went solo, he sourced for Omar drumming expertise. Hakim was also part of the band for Sting’s first solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, also appearing in the film Bring on the Night.
Omar Hakim The Groovesmith
In 2000, Hakim released his second solo CD, The Groovesmith, which was produced, recorded and mixed in his personal recording studio “The OH-Zone”. In 2010, Hakim formed a band with wife Rachel Z called “The Trio of OZ” and they recorded and toured extensively internationally behind their successful eponymous release. In 2014, he released his third album, entitled We Are One.
Omar Hakim & Kate Bush
Hakim played drums for the Kate Bush 22-night residency called Before the Dawn in London from August 26 – October 1, 2014 at the Hammersmith Apollo..
Omar Hakim & Journey
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.
Omar Hakim Cover Magazine
Omar was featured on the cover of Modern Drummer Magazine in 2014. In 2017,Omar also graced the cover of Drumhead Magazine.
Omar Hakim Berklee College
Omar became the Chairman of the Percussion Department of Berklee College of Music in 2017, replacing the previous Department Chair, John Ramsey.
Omar Hakim Collaborations
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. Meanwhile, he continued his work as a jazz fusion drummer; just a partial list of his credits over the 1980s and 1990s includes work with Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Roy Ayers, George Benson, Joe Sample, John Scofield, Lee Ritenour, Toninho Horta, and Najee.
During the 1990s, Hakim continued to improve his skills in the realm of electronic percussion, keeping abreast of new technologies.He performed on albums by Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Jewel, among other pop stars, and initially kept his jazz work going as well, though it had tapered off by the middle of the decade.
Omar Hakim Television Appearances
Hakim appeared regularly as the house band drummer between 1988 and 1989 in The Sunday Night Band during the first half-season of the acclaimed music performance program Sunday Night on NBC late-night television. After being temporarily replaced by drummer J. T. Lewis for the remainder of that season, Omar reappeared in the band for the second season in the fall of 1989, when the program returned and rebranded to Night Music.
Omar Hakim as leader
Rhythm Deep (GRP, 1989)The Groovesmith (Oh Zone Entertainment, 2000)The Omar Hakim Experience (Ozmosis, 2014)
Omar Hakim as a sideman
With Victor Bailey
1989 Bottom’s Up1999 Low Blow2001 That’s Right
With David Bowie
1983 Let’s Dance1984 Tonight1989 Blue Jean1989 Sound + Vision1990 Changesbowie
With Chic
1999 Live at the Budokan2002 In Japan2006 Night in Amsterdam
With Miles Davis
1986 Tutu1987 Music from Siesta1989 Amandla
With Dire Straits
1985 Brothers in Arms1988 Money for Nothing compilation1998 Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits compilation2005 The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations compilation
With Najee
1986 Najee’s Theme1990 Tokyo Blue1992 Just an Illusion2000 Love Songs2003 Embrace
With Lee Ritenour
1988 Festival1995 Larry & Lee2005 World of Brazil
With Special EFX
1988 Confidential1988 Double Feature1990 Just Like Magic1991 Peace of the World2013 Genesis
With Weather Report
1984 Domino Theory1984 Sportin’ Life1985 This Is This!2002 Live and Unreleased2006 Forecast: Tomorrow2011 Live in Cologne 1983
With others
1979 Love Approach, Tom Browne1981 As We Speak, David Sanborn1981 Africa Center of the World, Roy Ayers1981 Clean Sweep, Bobby Broom1983 Mobo Vol. 1, Kazumi Watanabe1983 Mobo Vol. 2, Kazumi Watanabe1983 Sorrow Is Not Forever…But Love Is, Urszula Dudziak1983 In Your Eyes, George Benson1985 Magic Touch, Stanley Jordan1985 The Dream of the Blue Turtles, Sting1986 Bring on the Night, Sting1986 Deep in the Heart of Nowhere, Bob Geldof1986 Inside Out, Philip Bailey1986 Premonition, Peter Frampton1986 Heartbeat, Don Johnson1986 Still Warm, John Scofield1987 Hai Hai, Roger Hodgson1987 I Never Said Goodbye, Sammy Hagar1987 Primitive Cool, Mick Jagger1988 C.K., Chaka Khan1988 Giving You the Best That I Got, Anita Baker1988 Ivory Coast, Bob James1988 Julia Fordham, Julia Fordham1989 City Streets, Carole King1989 Late Nite, Neal Schon1989 Migration, Dave Grusin1989 Spellbound, Joe Sample1990 Ashes to Ashes, Joe Sample1990 Deliverance, Jonathan Butler1990 Heal Our Land, Jonathan Butler1990 Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey1990 Fires of Eden, Judy Collins1990 Now You See It…Now You Don’t, Michael Brecker1990 Paint Another Picture, Darlene Love1991 Curves Ahead, The Rippingtons1991 Playground, Michel Petrucciani1991 In My Wildest Dreams, Tom Grant1992 Kiss My Axe, Al Di Meola1992 Matters of the Heart, Tracy Chapman1992 Tongues and Tails, Sophie B. Hawkins1993 Harbor Lights, Bruce Hornsby1993 Truest Heart, Nelson Rangell1993 The Sun Don’t Lie, Marcus Miller1995 Relish, Joan Osborne1996 Live at Seventh Avenue South, Mike Mainieri1996 Louder Than Words, Lionel Richie1996 Soulful Strut, Grover Washington Jr.1997 ”Let’s Talk About Love, Céline Dion1997 Old Devil Moon, Carmen Lundy1998 Foolish Games, Jewel1999 Scenes from My Life, Richard Bona2000 Celebrating the Music of Weather Report, Jason Miles2000 Eye Contact, Jay Beckenstein2000 Lunar Eclypse, Gil Evans2001 Dellali, Cheb Mami2002 Beyond Words, Bobby McFerrin2003 Diamond Dave, David Lee Roth2003 The Reel Me, Jennifer Lopez2005 I on U, Neal Schon2005 Something to Be, Rob Thomas2010 Hello Tomorrow, Dave Koz2010 Homeland, Laurie Anderson2012 Traveler, Jerry Douglas2013 Fire Within, Birdy2013 Random Access Memories, Daft Punk2016 Before the Dawn, Kate Bush
