If you’re a music lover grimacing at what often passes for talent these days and wondering “where are the real singers,” perhaps a listen to Kashief would be satisfying to you.
A graduate of Overton High School for Creative and Performing Arts, Kashief began singing in church at a young age. That experience, along with local talent shows, positioned him for a tryout on “Showtime at the Apollo.” And that led to him being asked to sing for McDonalds as a “McDonalds Apollo Kid” traveling around the country.
On Nov. 14, Kashief will be performing at LoVe Lounge. You can also catch him at The All Black Affair at the Esplanade on Nov. 23 and at the Hilton Hotel Memphis on Dec. 31. During a recent conversation, he talked about his upcoming projects and more.
“I want everyone to be my audience,” he said. “I want everyone to be able to relate to my music. I enjoy being a source of inspiration through music.”
His voice is untarnished, steeped in an old school Al Green, with a Jahiem, Lyfe Jennings swagger. He glides through long melismas, placing each touch of vibrato or grain neatly and moving in and out of a pure falsetto.
His on-stage sets are soul satisfying with a natural feel. The transitions he makes from song to song are clear and sensible.
“Kashief is a vibe! He puts on an incredible live performance,” said Jasmyne Hurley, a fan that witnessed him at an earlier performance at LoVe Lounge. “He has a wonderful mature voice, he interacts well with his audience and he has a great song selection.”
Kashief has had the pleasure of performing alongside powerhouse vocalist Jazmine Sullivan, at an NAACP banquet. He also auditioned and made it to the final rounds of P. Diddy’s “Making the Band.”
Whether performing with a full band or a solo guitarist, his slow-motion romance, along with his unhurried sensuality and sleek musical detail make Kashief a stunning performer.
The live instruments, the jazz harmonies, the undulating rhythm, Kashief is the perfect artist to book for an event. Although he isn’t currently performing any of his own music, he performs timeless classics, fiercely through a crowd-pleasing medley that proves conducive to several take-it-to-church vocal moments.
He sings rich, straightforward soul music and R&B, such as Anthony Hamilton’s “Best of Me,” Bill Wither’s “Lovely Day” and Smokey Robinson’s “Crusin.”
And, he definitely has a loverman persona.
(If you are interested in booking Kashief to perform for your business, family or social event, contact S.Jay Entertainment at shampton333@yahoo.com or 901-356-3566!)
