born on the south side of chicago, heard grew up hearing jazz and motown at home, and could play several instruments from a young age. before beginning his solo musical career in 1983, he was the drummer, at the age of 17, in the band infinity (a jazz fusion cover group that included adonis). he is sometimes cited as having been a member of the manhattan transfer, but heard has denied this, saying, "[i] filled in for somebody on one show." he also worked for the us government as a benefit authorizer, which enabled him to buy his first pieces of studio equipment.