Omar Hakim

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, Celine Dion, and Thundercat.

Early life Hakim was born in New York City on February 12, 1959. His father, Hasaan Hakim, was a trombonist. and first performed in his father's band four or five years later.

At the end of 1984, Hakim joined Dire Straits as drummer while recording their fifth album Brothers in Arms at the now-abandoned AIR Studios in Montserrat. Hakim temporarily replaced the band's then-permanent drummer Terry Williams, who had been sidelined and released from the recording sessions by producers Mark Knopfler and Neil Dorfsman, as his drumming performance was felt to be unsuitable for the desired sound of the album after most of the album tracks had been recorded. 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 the drums on most tracks on the final album were performed by Hakim, apart from the hit single "Walk of Life" and the improvised drum crescendo at the beginning of "Money for Nothing". (According to another interview with Neil Dorsman, Williams played toms and tom fills throughout “Money for Nothing” and "Walk of Life", while Hakim played drums on all the remaining tracks on the album).

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

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

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

On September 3, 2022, Hakim 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.

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. 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.

Personal life Hakim is married to and performs with jazz pianist Rachel Z.

Discography

As leader/co-leader Rhythm Deep (GRP, 1989) The Groovesmith (Oh Zone Entertainment, 2000) The Trio of OZ, The Trio of OZ (OZmosis, 2010) The Omar Hakim Experience, We are One (OZmosis, 2014) OZmosys, Eyes To The Future, Vol. 1 EP (OZmosis, 2019)

As a member Great Jazz Trio With Hank Jones and John Patitucci Stella by Starlight (Eighty-Eight's, 2006) July 5 th - Live at Birdland NY (Eighty-Eight's, 2007) July 6 th - Live at Birdland NY (Eighty-Eight's, 2007)

As sideman

With Victor Bailey Bottom's Up (Atlantic, 1989) Low Blow (Zebra, 1999) That's Right! (ESC, 2001)

With David Bowie Let's Dance (EMI America, 1983) Tonight (EMI America, 1984)

With Jonathan Butler Deliverance (GRP, 1990) Heal Our Land (Jive, 1990)

With Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (Columbia, 1990) Merry Christmas (Columbia, 1994)

With Chic Live at the Budokan (Sumthing Else Music Works, 1999) – live In Japan (Charly, 2002) – compilation A Night in Amsterdam (Universe Italy, 2006)

With Miles Davis Tutu (Warner Bros., 1986) – rec. 1985 Music from Siesta (Warner Bros., 1987) – soundtrack Amandla (Warner Bros., 1989) – rec. 1988–1989

With Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (Vertigo, 1985)

With George Benson In Your Eyes (Warner Bros., 1983) Love Remembers (Warner Bros., 1993)

With Najee Najee's Theme (Capitol, 1986) Tokyo Blue (Capitol, 1990) Just an Illusion (Capitol, 1992) Love Songs (Blue Note, 2000) – compilation Embrace (N-Coded, 2003)

With Lee Ritenour Festival (GRP, 1988) Larry & Lee (GRP, 1995) World of Brazil (GRP, 2005)

With Special EFX Confidential (GRP, 1989) Double Feature (GRP, 1988) Just Like Magic (GRP, 1990) Peace of the World (GRP, 1991) Genesis (Shanachie, 2013)

With Joe Sample Spellbound (Warner Bros., 1989) Ashes to Ashes (Warner Bros., 1990)

With Neal Schon Late Nite (Columbia, 1989) I on U (Favored Nations Entertainment, 2005)

With Sting The Dream of the Blue Turtles (A&M, 1985) Bring On the Night (live) (A&M, 1986)

With Kazumi Watanabe Mobo Vol. 1 (Gramavision, 1984) Mobo Vol. 2 (Gramavision, 1984)

With Weather Report Procession (Columbia, 1983) Domino Theory (Columbia, 1984) Sportin' Life (Columbia, 1985) This Is This! (Columbia, 1986) Live and Unreleased (Columbia, 2002) – live rec. 1975–1983 Forecast: Tomorrow (Columbia, 2006) – compilation Live in Cologne 1983 (Art of Groove, 2011)[2CD] – live rec. 1983

With others Laurie Anderson, Homeland (Nonesuch, 2010) – rec. 2007–2010 Roy Ayers, Africa, Center of the World (Polydor, 1981) Philip Bailey, Inside Out (Columbia, 1986) Anita Baker, Giving You the Best That I Got (Elektra, 1988) Jay Beckenstein, Eye Contact (Windham Hill Jazz, 2000) Birdy, Fire Within (Atlantic, 2013) Richard Bona, Scenes from My Life (Columbia, 1999) Michael Brecker, Now You See It...Now You Don't (GRP, 1990) Bobby Broom, Clean Sweep (Arista GRP, 1981) Tom Browne, Love Approach (GRP, 1979) Kate Bush, Before the Dawn (Concord, 2016) – live rec. 2014 Tracy Chapman, Matters of the Heart (Elektra, 1992) Judy Collins, Fires of Eden (Columbia, 1990) Steve Cropper, Fire It Up (Provogue, 2021) Céline Dion, Let's Talk About Love (Columbia, 1997) Jerry Douglas, Traveler (Membran, 2012) Will Downing, A Dream Fulfilled (Island Records, 1991) Will Downing, Love's the Place to Be (Mercury, 1993) Will Downing, Moods (Mercury, 1995) Urszula Dudziak, Sorrow Is Not Forever...But Love Is (Keytone, 1983) EOB, Earth (Capitol, 2020) – rec. 2012–2020 Gil Evans, Lunar Eclypse (New Tone, 1992) – rec. 1981 Everything But the Girl, The Language of Life (Atlantic, 1990) Foo Fighters, Medicine at Midnight (RCA, 2021) - rec. 2019-2020 Julia Fordham, Julia Fordham (Circa, 1988) Peter Frampton, Premonition (Virgin, 1986) Bob Geldof, Deep in the Heart of Nowhere (Mercury, 1986) Tom Grant, In My Wildest Dreams (Verve Forecast, 1992) Conan Gray, Found Heaven (Republic, 2024) Dave Grusin, Migration (GRP, 1989) Sammy Hagar, I Never Said Goodbye (Geffen, 1987) Sophie B. Hawkins, Tongues and Tails (Columbia, 1992) Roger Hodgson, Hai Hai (A&M, 1987) Bruce Hornsby, Harbor Lights (RCA, 1993) – rec. 1992 Toninho Horta, Foot On The Road (Verve Forecast, 1994) Mick Jagger, Primitive Cool (Columbia, 1987) Bob James, Ivory Coast (Warner Bros., 1988) Stanley Jordan, Magic Touch (Blue Note, 1985) Don Johnson, Heartbeat (Epic, 1986) Chaka Khan, ck (Warner Bros., 1988) Carole King, City Streets (Capitol, 1989) Dave Koz, Hello Tomorrow (Concord, 2010) Urban Knights, Urban Knights (GRP, 1995) Jennifer Lopez, The Reel Me (Epic, 2003) Darlene Love, Paint Another Picture (Columbia, 1990) Carmen Lundy, Old Devil Moon (JVC, 1997) Mike Mainieri, Live at Seventh Avenue South (NYC, 1996) – live Cheb Mami, Dellali (Virgin, 2001) Bobby McFerrin, Beyond Words (Blue Note, 2002) Al Di Meola, Kiss My Axe (Tomato, 1992) Marcus Miller, The Sun Don't Lie (PRA, 1993) The O'Jays, Emotionally Yours (EMI, 1991) Joan Osborne, Relish (Polydor, 1995) Michel Petrucciani, Playground (Blue Note, 1991) Daft Punk, Random Access Memories (Columbia, 2013) – rec. 2008–2012 The Rippingtons, Curves Ahead (GRP, 1991) Nelson Rangell, Truest Heart (GRP, 1993) Lionel Richie, Louder Than Words (Mercury, 1996) David Lee Roth, Diamond Dave (Magna Carta, 2003) David Sanborn, As We Speak (Warner Bros., 1981) John Scofield, Still Warm (Gramavision, 1986) Rob Thomas...Something to Be (Atlantic, 2005) Knut Værnes Trio, Updates (Curling Legs, 2018) – rec. 2017 Grover Washington Jr., Soulful Strut (Columbia, 1996) Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Dance of fire (Columbia, 1995) V.A., Celebrating the Music of Weather Report (Telarc, 2000)