Dawoud, "Renegade Sufi"

Dawoud began to play the guitar about half a year or so after Jimi Hendrix died. Shortly afterward he expanded his listening tastes into jazz, fusion, classical, blues, and Indian raga. His teens were spent honing his guitar skills. On his 18th birthday, he bought his sitar and began teaching himself the rudiments of the instrument from books and recordings. Between 1979-83. Dawoud toured the Midwest US with Focal Poynt as multi-instrumentalist, composer. He also began teaching guitar and learning audio engineering. In 1983, he moved to New York City, and did work as a musician and musical director locally and toured with a number of local rock groups. In 1994 Dawoud decided to abandon rock music, and sought exclusivity in jazz and eastern music. Short tours of the Eastern US followed. Dawoud's achievements between 2001 & 2005 include: Building his home recording studio. Many sessions and live performances. Teaching; privately, and with the Bronx School of Music and Art, and the Harlem School of the Arts. Began performing in Europe as a bandleader (Paris, Milan, Zurich, Copenhagen, etc.). Received radio airplay in Europe, Russia, and Indonesia. In 2005, "Renegade Sufi" was released in Europe, and later in the US. Performances in Italy and France were well received. 2006 - 08 saw Dawoud beginning work on his next CD, performing, touring in the US, producing film soundtracks, recording, teaching, and learning the dulruba. Tours of the US and Europe, and the release of a new CD are being planned for 2009.