Inspired by the Jackson Five, New Edition, Hi Five, Immature, and Mint Condition, Imajin consists of four gifted, musically diverse teens: Jamal Hampton 17; Talib Kareem 15; Olamide(Ah-lam-i-day)Faison 14; and John Fitch 16. All musically proficient, the four create and persorm their own music, the quartet created when producer Bert Price met Jamal, a pre-teen at the time, and saw the possibility for launching an adolescent group unlike any other.
A New York native born into a family of singers and musicians, Jamal has been a singer and drummer since the age of 4. A featured vocalist in his church choir, he was selected as one of the finalists of the 1993-1994 McDonald's Gospel Choir Competition. At 12, Jamal was hired as a touring drummer for the legendary R&B group Blue Magic. Impressed with Jamal's explosive talent, Price began his search for other similarly accomplished boys to form a group.
A musical prodigy who has played piano since the age of five, Talib won Price's confidence with a blistering rendition of Scott Joplin's classis "Maple Leaf Rag." A native of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Talib is a player and composer who has studied jazz and classical music at the Settlement School in Philadelphia and has performed with Grover Washington, Jr. in a jazz master class. As the leader of his family band, The Kareems, Talib performed monthly at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Atlantic City. The group has also been the house band for the "Children's Amateur Night" at the Apollo Theatre. Also the owner of a recording studio and production company, Talib is one of the youngest entreprenuers in show business today.
Olamide whose Yoruba dialect name means "one who brings honor to his family," was born and raised in New York City and is the younger brother of actor Donald Faison. Since childhood, he has been an entertainer, appearing on Sesame Street and in the HBO movie Rebound, as well as many television commercials, including spots for Pizza Hut, Chevy trucks and Mattel Toys. He contributed lead vocals for the theme song from the Cartoon Network's show Big Bang. As part of Imajin, he sings and plays the guitar.
Born and raised in New Orleans, group member John hails from a family of professional musicians. He has explored musical styles ranging from R&B and jazz to classical, with his rich singing voice and impressive keyboard skills, and has performed at New Orleans' prestigious annual Jazz and Heritage Festival. During the last two years, he has commuted to New York every weekend to perform with Imajin.
After being put together by Price, it soon became clear that the group possessed a natural artistic chemistry, the four recording their first track with Gerald Levert in December, 1996. Since then, Imajin ahs performed at the Apollo Theatre's "Children's Amateur Night" and various local community events, high schools and festivals in the New York area. After their performance at the 1998 NBA All-Stars Weekend's nationally televised "Team Up Celebration," along with L.L. Cool J, Wyclef Jean and the Refugee Camp All Stars, Salt 'N' Pepa and others, they wre mobbed by hundres of autograph-seeking fans.
Always together, the members of Imajin describe their group as a family unit. With an always-packed schedule, Imajin takes their carrer-building work in stride. "While most of it is fun, it is hard work and we work well together," says Olamide. "It's like a little brotherhood."
