Sumon

Saidus Salehin Khaled Sumon (born 8 January 1973), popularly known by his nickname Bassbaba Sumon, is a Bangladeshi rock singer-songwriter, bass player, composer, music producer and founder of the Bangladeshi rock band Aurthohin.

He is the band leader and spokesperson of Aurthohin since the beginning.

Sumon was born and raised in Dhaka.

He started learning bass by himself at the age of 14.

Sumon was born in 1973 in Dhaka, Bangladesh to Nazmul Ahsan Khaled and Shamsun Nahar Khaled.

He attended Government Laboratory High School.

After that, he completed his graduation from Dhaka City College.

He started playing Hawaiian guitar at the age of 7.

In an interview, Sumon stated that he was unable to buy a Spanish guitar, so he took his Hawaiian guitar to a shop and converted it into a Spanish guitar.

He picked up his first Spanish guitar and formed his first band when he was 12.

One day he was seeing an Iron Maiden show on TV.

He was heavily inspired by Steve Harris.

Since then he started playing the bass guitar.

He was 14.

He joined one of the most popular bands in Bangladesh 'Feelings' as a bassist when he was 16 where he played with Faruq Mahfuz Anam, commonly known as James.

He did the first ever unaccompanied bass solo in Bangladesh when he was 17.

He played with 11 bands by the age of 19.

He also wrote, sang, and produced his first solo album when by that time.

He is known for his nice grooves, excellent use of different bass playing techniques, and, mostly, for his frequent bass solos in his band Aurthohin's songs.

Bangladesh is a country where rock music, especially metal and alternative rock, is getting popular and Bassbaba Sumon is credited as one of the few most influential artists in this sector.

He has single-handedly changed the role of bass guitar in Bangladeshi Music.

It is said that bass playing has become a hugely attractive thing to the young music lovers of this country only because of the influence of Bassbaba Sumon.

He is also a key figure in promoting Rock music in this country.

He first auditioned for rock band Feelings in 1990 at the age of 16 and joined the band that year.

He had played in 11 bands by the age of 19.

In 1996, he joined Warfaze and later appeared in the band's 1998 hit album "অসামাজিক (Antisocial)" and left the band.

In 1997, his first solo album "সুমন ও অর্থহীন (Sumon and Aurthohin)" was released while he was in Warfaze.

Later, after leaving Warfaze, he formed Aurthohin.

He is mostly known for his slapping and tapping style in bass playing and is considered to be the most influential and greatest bassist in the country.

His style of playing bass and success in music has earned him the title "Bassbaba" (Father of Bass).

World's renowned Bass Player magazine described him as a "Bangladeshi Bass Pioneer".

In 2011, it was announced that he had a spine and stomach cancer.

In 2016 he released his first solo bass album named "Soul Food Part 1".In the album, Sumon collaborated and featured world-renowned musicians, the likes of Felix Pastorius, Robert ‘Bubby’ Lewis, Josh Cohen, Bob Franceschini, J.D. Blair and Erfan Nazem Zadeh.

Talented Bangladeshi drummer Mark Don is also featured in one of the tracks.

Sumon has cited Steve Harris as his primary influence for switching to bass from guitar.

He was also inspired by various funk bassists such as Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan and Stuart Ham.

He mostly plays with slapping and tapping.

His slapping technique helped Aurthohin bring funky sound.

His notable solos are - Shaat Din, Guti (The Finale), Surjo 2, Nirbodh, Nikkrishto 3, Punorjonmo (Guti-5), Cancer Casserole, Better Call Salt & The Walking Bread, Tapping Tempura, etc.

After the release of Aurthohin's fourth album, ' Dhrubok', Sumon's health deteriorated.