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. Kumalo has toured regularly with Simon since then. He has also released several solo records and continued to perform as a session musician with artists such as Joan Baez, Cyndi Lauper, Herbie Hancock, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Brecker, Grover Washington Jr., and Mickey Hart.
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Bakithi Kumalo shares how a call from Paul Simon led him from a South African garage to recording one of pop music's most iconic fretless bass solos.
Bakithi Kumalo shares the story behind his iconic fretless bass work on Paul Simon’s Graceland and how music changed the course of his life.
Graceland bassist Bakithi Kumalo returns to the stage with Paul Simon on the Quiet Celebration Tour—his first since the singer's 2018 farewell.
Joe Osborn’s work on Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Only Living Boy In New York” is a masterpiece. Here’s Paul Simon performing the tune with the great Bakithi Kumalo, whose beautiful playing honors the original.
Today is our good friend Bakithi Kumalo’s birthday, and we’re celebrating with one of his all-time great bass lines. Here’s a live clip of “You Can Call Me Al.”
