 Ameen was born in 1960 in New Haven, Connecticut.Studied drum set with Ed Blackwell and classical percussion with Fred Hinger.BA Literature, Yale University, 1982

As a sideman, Ameen has recorded extensively with such artists as Ruben Blades, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Valentin, Eddie Palmieri, Paul Simon, Jack Bruce, Kip Hanrahan, Conrad Herwig, Carly Simon, Mongo Santamaria, Hilton Ruiz, Kirsty MacColl, and many others.