[2] Born Robert Prince Haynes in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Kenyatta grew up in New York City and began playing the saxophone at the age of 14.
He was mostly self-taught, learning alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones and flute, but received encouragement and help from professional musicians such as John Handy.
Throughout the 1970s, he recorded as a sideman for Alan Silva, Andrew Hill, Magma, Oscar Brown, Ted Curson, Sam Rivers, and Archie Shepp.
Kenyatta also continued to record under his own name, trying "to find a comfortable middle ground between fusion, instrumental pop, and his hard bop and free music roots.
[1] With Oscar Brown Jr. With Valerie Capers With Ted Curson With Bill Dixon With Andrew Hill With Jazz Composer's Orchestra With Sam Rivers With Roswell Rudd With Archie Shepp With Alan Silva With Sonny Stitt