Keni Burke - Biography
By Marcus Kagler
Best remembered as the vocalist for The Five Stairsteps' soul classic, “O-o-h Child,” Keni Burke spent the latter half of his career as a sought after session musician and underrated solo artist, who unknowingly influenced the evolution of modern day hip-hop. Kenneth M. Burke was born on September 28, 1953 into a Chicago family steeped in the R&B tradition. His father, Clarence “Papa” Burke, was a strict taskmaster who forged his five children, including Keni, into a polished R&B group his mother christened The Five Stairsteps. Initially signed to Curtis Mayfield’s Windy City label, by the mid-70’s the group had changed direction and were signed to George Harrison’s Dark Horse label. Although they played with and were produced by legendary R&B artists like Mayfield and Billy Preston, the group was mostly known as the “O-o-h Child” one hit wonder, and by 1976 the Five Stairsteps had disbanded. Still signed to the Dark Horse label, Burke released his debut solo full-length, Keni Burke (1977 Dark Horse) the following year to a relatively indifferent audience.
Burke spent the remainder of the 70’s working as a successful session bassist for numerous acts, including Sly & The Family Stone, Diana Ross, and Gladys Knight. His second R&B full length, You’re The Best (1981 RCA) spawned the moderate hits “Let Somebody Love You” and “You’re The Best.” Although his followup album was only a hit in his native Chicago, its influential sound would cross the generation gap. The single, “Risin’ To The Top,” from Burke’s third full length Changes (1982 RCA), wasn’t a huge success when it was released but the song’s infectious bass line gained huge notoriety in hip-hop circles, nearly a decade later, with artists like LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, and Big Daddy Kane. Burke returned to session work and production for other artists like Peabo Bryson and Keith Sweat throughout the 80’s and early 90’s. After a 16-year hiatus, Burke released the solo effort, Nothin’ But Love (1998 Expansion) with the single “Indigenous Love” taking off with the UK stepper crowd.
