Asim Allakim:
CLASS OF 1971
South Shore High SchoolClass of 1971
Chicago, IL
Asim's Story
After graduating from South Shore high school I went to Olive Harvey High School for one semester, but it was not a good fit, so I chose to enter the Navy instead. I went to Great Mistakes, I mean Great Lakes for basic Training. It was there that I experienced the Blizzard of 1977. It was so cold that we lost power to the base for 3 whole days and they did not take a personnel muster as well. Any of you who have military experience know that is unheard of, because Uncle Sam always takes a body count! I swore to myself I would find sunshine, blue skies and warm weather! So when it came time to put in for orders for school , my choice was California because firstly,I was a songwriter and that was where the music industry was located and secondly that was also where the White Crane Kung Fu School was located( I was an avid Martial Artist). The navy sent me to California. A step in the right direction. After technical training as a Computer Electronics Tech, I was then sent to Hawaii for 3 years, I loved it! Then I was sent back to southern California for the duration of my enlistment.
I separated from the Navy and pursued my dream of a musical career. I attended the Dick Grove School of Music and performing Arts. To pay my rent, because of my theatrical background, I performed in Shakespearean plays produced by the the San Diego Repertory Company, the same company where Whoopi Goldberg polished her acting chops. I moved to Los Angeles, I stayed with Pamela Goodlow, a theatrical producer and her family. It was one of the best times of my life! Even though Pamela lived in the "hood" (South Central Los Angeles ), She knew amazing people, who would come over to the house and chill out or work. To my surprise and delight through...Expand for more
Pam I met such people as Whoopi Goldberg, the late Esther Rolle (of Good Times), Danny Glover, Jayne Kennedy(yes my brothers, and she is even more beautiful in real life than she is in pictures!).Through Pam I also met and became friends with the late Yolanda King, the daughter of Rev. Martin Luther King who regaled me with amazing childhood stories of her father Martin and mother Coretta. I also met Attilah Shabzz, the daughter of Malcolm X.
While living in Los Angeles,I thoroughly embraced my passion for music. I wrote songs, acted in Gospel and other theatrical productions. I learned the fine art of guerilla recoding( which is recording with no or little money) I made some fruitful partnerships as well as some futile ones. It was through these associations that I learned some of the most important music business lessons of my life. I was "paying my dues." I began to make some progress. I wrote songs that was placed in documentaries. I began a career in voice-overs, I began to meet people who wanted to record my songs, then an event occurred which changed my whole life and brought me back to Chicago, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
I returned to Chicago in November 2007 and caught hell! I, who had lived in tropical climates for the last 30 years, now had to contend with cold, snow, ice and wearing long underwear.It was not easy but I adapted. I now feel as if I started a new chapter in my life. After being laid off from my sales account rep position in Computer sales, I decided to return to college to obtain a degree in music therapy. I will work with emotionally maladjusted veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars with music. My goal is to finish college then work with veterans during the day and sing at jazz clubs at night.
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