Jamil Sharif began playing music at the age of 14. Much of his influence came from his Father, the Late World-Renowned Trumpeter Emery Humphrey Thompson (Umar Sharif). Jamil’s enriched training and passion led him to being accepted into one of the South’s top facilities for in-depth learning of Music theory, history and technique, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), which is known for creating some of the world’s top musicians, such as Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr., Terence Blanchard, and actor Wendell Pierce. At NOCCA, Jamil studied with such notables as Ellis Marsalis. After completing NOCCA, he attended Southern University where he continued to study with Alvin Batiste, Roger Dickerson and Edward "Kidd" Jordan. This thought provoking, vivacious and mesmerizing musician carries with him a long line of musical heritage from as early as the mid-1800s. His father was a veteran trumpeter, having performed as Lead Trumpeter with such Broadway musicals as the "The Wiz" (1975), "Black and Blue" (1989), and New York’s very own, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Jamil’s great-grandfather was the legendary music teacher, who taught many musicians in New Orleans, as well as many of the south's musical legends. Born and raised in New Orleans, Jamil has performed, and recorded with some of the music industry's leading giants.