MAJOR MUSIC ARTISTS - MALI
DESCRIPTION: Ali Farka Toure
ACTIVITY STATUS: Departed
ACTIVITY PERIOD: 1956 - 2006
MUSIC GENRE: Blues, Malian Folk, Folk
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: MALI
RECORD COMPANIES / LABELS (Current & Past): World Circuit
WIKIPEDIA PAGE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farka_Tour%C3%A9
ABOUT HIM:
A Grammy Award winner for his mid-Nineties record Talking Timbuktu (a collaboration with Ry Cooder), along with Salif Keita, Ali Farka Toure became part of the wave of Malian musicians who intoxicated audiences worldwide with their intricate guitar and kora pieces. Born into Malian nobility near Timbuktu, he literally “came from nowhere” to achieve success. He began attending concerts in the capital Bamako in his teens, and after learning to play a number of traditional Malian instruments, mastered the guitar. On hearing African American blues performed, he is said to have commented that it came from Malian music - a belief many people would agree with at on hearing both forms. During the 1980s and 1990s he gained fame across West Africa and beyond as a blues guitarist and singer, leading to the international success of Talking Timbuktu. When not touring, he still lives at his home near Timbuktu on the southern fringe of the Sahara.
By Larry Buttrose
VIDEO:
LINKS
- Obituary in the UK Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/mar/08/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries
Parent Category Page Links: | Music Artists / Outfits - Mali |
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