User:Daoud A. Haroon/Daoud Haroon

=== Daoud A. Haroon, also known as Daoud Haroon and Hajj Daoud A. Haroon. Trombonist,Percussionist,Educator,Spiritual Wayfarer. === Daoud A. Haroon was born in Boston Massachusetts on May 13, 1934 as John Mancebo Lewis, later changed his name legally in 1964 to Daoud Abdurahman Haroon.

Mr. Haroon began his studies of percussion instruments as a teenager in Boston with his cousin James Quash Stevens, who was also a singer and played Tenor Saxophone. It was with his cousin that he began to accompany the dance rehearsals and performances of choreographer and dance intructors, Alma Lewis, and George Howard. Prior to the study of the trombone he played Conga Drums in the bands of his cousin Jim Stevens, Richie Lowery, and played performances with pianist Red Garland, Trumpeter Wilbur Lucaw and Roland Alexander

He later began the study of The Trombone and music theory with the pianist and composer Jaki Byard and then with Charles (Chuck) Conners. After a short while he joined the Musicians Union local 535, and began to play professionally in the trombone sections of bands led by: Richie Lowery, Rollins Griffeth, and Jaki Byard, and Allen Dawson. And also could be found in the smaller groups led by Ken McIntyre, Roland Alexander, Crystal Joy, Paul Neves, Drummer Sam Woodyard and Sonny Watson.

During the latter part of the 1950's he was invited to rehearse with Ken McIntyre playing new experimental compositions that led to a small movement within Boston of The Avant Gard. Other musicians that Mr. Haroon was involved with in this effort were the Pianists: Paul Neves, Edward (Dizzy) Sal, Jaki Byard. Tenor player and composers Roland Alexander, Sam Rivers and Drummers Bobby Ward and William (Baggy) Grant.

Mr. Haroon eventually recorded two albums with Ken McIntyre 1.) Stone Blues, 2.)The Complete United Artist Sessions. These recordings paved the way for his moving to New York City in 1959/60.

During his time in NYC,NY from 1960 to 1975 (The Loft Period) he performed and recorded with Ken McIntyre, Sam Rivers, Chiles and Pettiford, Roland Alexander, Ronny Boykins, The Manifestation, Earl Cross, The Bassist and Oudist, Ahmed Abdul-Malik, Hakim Jami, Phil Lasley, Charles Eubanks, Roger Blank, Art (Shaki) Lewis, Tommy Turrentine, Studio We, Joe Lee Wilson, Fielder Floyd, Kamal Abdul-Alim and Olu Dara.

It was during his stay in New York City that Mr. Haroon began a close spiritual relationship with Shaikh Daoud Ahmad Faisal. Under the tutelege of Shaikh Daoud his studies of Islam, Sufism and Afican/ Middle Eastern music took on new dimensions.

In 1973 Mr Haroon graduated from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut with a B.A. in Music. It was during his time at Wesleyan that he concentrated on West African Music and continued his musical experiments with faculty and students: Ken McIntyre, Clifford Thornton, Jay Hoggard, Eddy Blackwell, Richie Harper, Sam Rivers and Ghanaian Master Drummer Kwabena Adzenya. He also began the study of the Oud with the late George Mgrdichian.

He was offered the position of Visiting Artist in African American Music at Wesleyan University in 1973 a post he held for two years - returning to New York City to Co-lead two groups 'The Beginning' with Phil Lasley, Roger Blank and Hakim Jami - this group later morphed into 'The Manifestation'.with Phil Lasley, Kamal Abdul-Alim, Charles Eubanks, Art Lewis, Hakim Jami and vocalist Irene Datcher (See website: ManceboMosaic)

He married in 1974 and moved with his family to Houston, Texas where he resumed his studies at Texas Southern University - he graduated in 1989 with an M.A. in History, concentration in Oral history and Colonial American History..

He taught American History in The Houston Community College System for a decade as an adjunct instructor and continued his studies in Indian music with Sarod player Dr. Ellen Raghavan. He also studied at the C.G. Jung Educational Center in Houston, as well as Tibetan Buddhist Meditation with The Dharma Study Group. It was during this time that he began a serious study of Sufism and the study of various forms of Musical Therapy, 'Trance Music," Qasidah, Diwan, etc.

He retired from teaching and began working as a Librarian at The Islamic Education Center of Houston, where developed The Avicenna Library, a multi-lingual lending and study Library, Open House Programs and an Educational Series that impacted the Prison System nationwide.

He now lives in Durham, North Carolina where he continues his studies. He is primarily involved in Inter Faith Dialogue and is conducting research and writing about the African Influences on the development of Islam in America and African American music.

He is a student (Murid) of the Senegalese Sufi Shaikh Haroon Faye al-Faqir and has recently been installed as a Shaikh of The Mustaphawiyyu Tariqa (Sufi Brotherhood)as an International Representative and Spiritual Teacher. --- Extensive biographical information of Daoud A. Haroon can be found on: http://sites.google.com/site/mancebomosaic