Raised in a diverse community on Long Island, N.Y. Ahmad was exposed to a wide variety of Soul and Jazz at home. The desire to play an instrument started young. He would put rubber bands on shoe boxes and try to make music.  As a child he would sing what ever was on the radio with the family. His Mom sang with choirs in her youth, and Dad would play Drums with his Uncles, ‘The Mitchell- Airs. “Both Grandfathers were Musicians, his Mother’s Dad played keyboards, among other instruments, his Father’s Dad played valve trombone, but passed away at an early age (Poisoned by a jealous Woman). The Family Loved music, some of his fondest memories are of seeing many greats at the Apollo, and singing La La Means "I Love You" to his mother, as Eddie O-Jay played it on the radio. In middle School and Jr. High, he sang with the school Chorus. As a teen the desire to play guitar was strong. He had to wait till he got a job, to buy his first guitar. Months later his mom seeing the desire and commitment bought him an electric guitar. A year and a half later he was playing in night clubs with some of long islands top Party bands. Music being music he even played for local churches.  His Father would get angry because the churches didn’t pay him because being Muslim, he wasn’t, baptized. He played on any way because of his love of music and his friends. Many of his neighbors were Hispanic, and he spent many a beautiful afternoon jamming with them in their yards, congas and cool drinks on a hot weekend. As time moved on various experiences were collected, his friends told him they had seen him on TV when  Eye Witness News 7 in New York featured a group he worked with, called “Premonition” in a story about a con man who ripped them off, they filmed the group and set them up with a recording session with Don Kirschner at his Associated studios in Manhattan. As things didn’t pan with that group he found him self working with a hand full of rock bands (more guitar oriented). By his late twenties he laid his guitar down and started a family. Ten years later he started back at it. Soon he ran into his old friend from Premonition, and got back in. In conjunction with a team he started producing all kinds of entertainment events. Their rhythm section backed up all kinds of artist doing several styles of music from classic oldies Club music, Caribbean music, and more. This work led to more such as being stage manager for Protocol when they opened up for Will Downing at the Paramount theatre. Also meeting and working with Soul 4 Real as their musical director on their tour of London, Amsterdam, Bulawayo and Harare in Zimbabwe. He also doubled as Road manager for their back up band, Blusyde. He had the honor of playing on Soul 4 Real’s album “Heat” where he actually plays on more tracks than are credited to him. But once you hear the sound of his guitar you will know it on the rest of the tracks. This is when  the opportunity  to work in the award winning “Perfect Pair Studios” came, where the halls are adorned with gold and platinum plaques  and Grammies  from artist like Lauren Hill, Biggie Smalls and many more. He also worked with the Blackwood Band and James Brown Impersonator “Black Velvet” (AKA Daptone recording artist, Charles Bradley), when they opened for “Blue Magic” at the Brownsville Recreation center. He has since been working with various local groups, The Gordon Hurley Big Band, Blues States, Jazz on the Half Shell, Island Jazz Express, Snap, The Ahmad Ali Trio, and more, a journey thru His web site www.AhmadAliMusic.com , will show were and when. The Double A Band is His main Focus now. Bringing their sound to the world is the Mission!

 

His love for Radio and community activism came to fruition in his work at WBAI 99.5 FM in NY and streaming at WBAI .org   were he was heard over 13 years. You can now hear his show “Café Ali” on Wednesday mornings 10am on WUSB Stonybrook,90.1fm and streaming at www.WUSB.fm . The Double A Music is His main Focus now. Bringing His sound to the world is the Mission!

---