Youssou N'dour
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Beginning in the mid-1970s the resulting mix was modernized with a gloss of more complex indigenous Senegalese dance rhythms, roomy and melodic guitar and saxophone solos, chattering talking-drum soliloquies and, on occasion, Sufi-inspired Muslim religious chant. This created a new music which was at turns nostalgic, restrained and stately, or celebratory, explosively syncopated and indescribably funky. Younger Senegalese musicians steeped in Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, James Brown, and the whole range of American jazz, soul music and rock, which Senegal's cosmopolitan capital, Dakar, had enthusiastically absorbed, were rediscovering their heritage and seeking out traditional performers, particularly singers and talking-drummers, to join their bands. (The griots — musicians, praise-singers and storyteller-historians — comprise a distinct hereditary caste in Wolof society and throughout West Africa.) As it emerged from this period of fruitful musical turbulence, mbalax would eventually find in Youssou N'Dour the performer who has arguably had more to do with its shaping than any other individual.
He began performing at the age of 12. Within a couple of years he was performing regularly with the Star Band, Dakar's most popular group in the early 1970s. Several members of the Star Band joined Orchestre Baobab about that time.
For Western listeners, Youssou is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Peter Gabriel,in 1986, Neneh Cherry, and Wyclef Jean. He has also performed and recorded with Sting, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Branford Marsalis, and others. In July 1993, an African opera composed by N'dour premiered at the Paris Opera, and he wrote and performed an anthem for the 1998 World Cup playoffs.
His albums include Immigrés, Set, The Lion, Eyes Open, The Guide (Wommat), Joko, and Nothing's In Vain.
In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Etoile de Dakar, which, within a couple years had become The Super Etoile, still active as of 2005. His early work with Etoile de Dakar was in the typical Latin style popular all over Africa during that time, but in the 1980s he developed a unique sound when he started his current group, Super Etoile de Dakar featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and Tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam.
In recent years, he has opened his own recording studio, Xippi, as well as his own record label, Jololi (http://www.jololi.com/). He also started Project Joko (http://www.joko.sn/) to open internet cafes in Africa and to connect Senegalese communities around the world.
He won his first American Grammy Award (best contemporary world music album) for his CD Egypt in 2005.
N'dour has associated himself with several social and political issues. In 1985, he organized a concert for the release of Nelson Mandela. He toured for Amnesty International and worked with the United Nations and UNICEF.
External links
- http://www.youssou.com/ - Official Site
- http://www.jololi.com/ - His record label
- http://www.joko.sn/ - Joko Clubs
- http://youssou-ndour.worldbeatplanet.com/ - Fan Site
- Youssou N'dour (http://www.photoboxgallery.com/177936/659372) Images of Youssou N'dour
- “Senegal Superstar Wins Grammy for 'Egypt' ,” World Beat Planet, 16 Feb. 2005 (http://www.worldbeatplanet.com/node/402?PHPSESSID=004ccbd5f0f572b642d76b6a4f1f10d4)
- “Youssou n'Dour,” African Music Encyclopedia, 1998 (http://africanmusic.org/artists/youssou.html)
- “Youssou N'Dour” AfroWeb (http://www.chez.com/afroweb/you_bio.htm)*“Youssou N'Dour,” BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/profiles/ndouryoussou.shtml)
- “Youssou N'Dour, 'Egypt' and Islam,” National Public Radio (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3097000)de:Youssou N'Dour