Bakithi Kumalo

Biography and career Bakithi Kumalo was born in the Johannesburg township of Soweto, surrounded by relatives who loved music and actively performed. He got his first job at the age of seven filling in for his uncle's bass player. Kumalo worked as a session musician in South Africa during the 1970s and early 1980s, eventually becoming a top session bassist and accompanying international performers during their South African tours.

In 1985, Kumalo was introduced to Paul Simon by producer Hendrick Lebone during the sessions for Simon's Graceland album. Kumalo traveled with Simon to New York City to finish the sessions, and after the accompanying concert tour, "spent several years commuting between Soweto and New York City" before permanently settling in the United States. His lines "typically feature inverted broken arpeggios, quick pentatonic lines, and counter melodies," using techniques such as slap bass, dead notes, "octave 'hiccups,' anticipated downbeats, triplets, and double stops." Paul Simon has described Kumalo's sound on this instrument as "enormous . . . almost like a horn, but so primal." You're the One (2000) This Is Me (2005) Kama Sutra Rodeo (2016) What You Hear is What You See (2021)