Playing for change logo
  • Videos
  • Musicians
  • Band
  • Music
  • About
  • Shop
  • Blog
Português
Become a Member

Back to All Musicians

Otis Redding III

Bakithi Kumalo

Soweto, South Africa

Biography

Grammy Award-winning bassist Bakithi Kumalo’s musical career has been characterized by a series of serendipitous events, ranging from his debut gig as a precocious seven-year-old filling in for the bassist in his uncle’s band to his enlistment into Paul Simon’s group during the recording sessions of the pop star’s landmark Graceland album in 1985.

Kumalo creates a singular electric fretless bass sound teeming with double stops that sound like human voices and the African grooves of his homeland, which has garnered him a stellar reputation as a sideman. In addition to touring with Simon, he’s also recorded and/or toured with Gloria Estefan, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Chico Ceasar, Laurie Anderson, Gerald Albright, Miriam Makeba, Randy Brecker, Grover Washington Jr., Bob James, Angelique Kidjo, Jon Secada, Josh Groban and Chris Botti.

Kumalo has also been active as a solo artist, with five albums to his credit — 1998’s San’ Bonan, 2000’s In Front of My Eyes, 2008’s Transmigration, 2011’s Change, and 2016’s After All These Years.

Hometown

Follow Bakithi Kumalo

PFC Videos Featuring Bakithi Kumalo
Walking Blues | Song Around The World

May 08, 2019

Seeds of Freedom | Song Around The World

Jan 17, 2019

Discover Musicians
  • Greg Sardinha

    location_onHonolulu, HI, United States
  • Billy Branch

    location_onChicago, IL, United States
  • Rubén Rada

    location_onMontevideo, Uruguay
Explore Videos
When the Music Comes Around | PFC Band live in Goiânia

Aug 13, 2021

More For Your Money | Keb’ Mo’ | Live Outside

May 12, 2017

Diaraby | Live Outside

Mar 23, 2017

Recently From Our Blog
Protected: PFC BAND Live in Brazil

Posted on June 16, 2014


There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Continue reading
Want to see behind the scenes of PFC?
Become a Member
    • About
    • Contact
    • Team
    • Events
    • PFC Foundation
    • Blog
  • Become a Member
Playing for Change

Copyright © 2025 Playing for Change | Terms | Privacy