Jerome Najee Rasheed, known professionally as Najee, is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and flautist. He attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he studied with George Russell and Jaki Byard. He subsequently performed and recorded with singers including Chaka Khan, Freddie Jackson, Will Downing, Phil Perry, Prince, Patti Labelle, Phyllis Hyman, Vesta Williams and Jeffrey Osborne. He has recorded and performed with instrumentalists Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, Larry Carlton, Billy Cobham, Charles Earland, Paul Jackson Jr. and George Duke. As a solo artist he came to prominence with "Najee's Theme" in 1986. His greatest hits album, The Best of Najee, was released in 1998. He released his first album with Shanachie Records entitled The Smooth Side Of Soul, on January 31, 2012. It features production from keyboardist and producer Jeff Lorber and saxophonist and producer Darren Rahn, as well as guest vocals from R&B singer Phil Perry on the lead single, "Just To Fall In Love". The video for "Just To Fall In Love" also features actress Vanessa Bell Calloway and songstress N'dambi. 

November 4th, 1957 in New York City (Age 67)