Legendary drummer and afrobeat co-founder Tony Allen dies
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Tuesday, October 8, 2024


Legendary drummer and afrobeat co-founder Tony Allen dies
In this file photo taken on June 21, 2017 Nigerian drummer Tony Allen and his band play at the courtyard (Cour d'Honneur) of the Palais Royal in Paris, for the annual "Fete de la Musique" (music day). Nigerian musician Tony Allen, drummer and creator of Afrobeat alongside his compatriot Fela Kuti, died on April 30 in Paris at the age of 79, his manager told AFP. "We don't know exactly the cause of death," Eric Trosset said, adding that he was not swept away by the Covid-19 virus. LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP.



PARIS (AFP).- Legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, who created afrobeat along with his old bandmate Fela Kuti, died suddenly at the age of 79 in Paris on Thursday, his manager told AFP.

"We don't know the exact cause of death," manager Eric Trosset said, adding it was not linked to the coronavirus.

"He was in great shape, it was quite sudden. I spoke to him at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT), then two hours later he was sick and taken to Pompidou hospital where he died."

Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti's band Africa '70 in the 1960s and 1970s.

During that time the pair created afrobeat, combining West African musical styles such as highlife and fuji music with American imports jazz and funk. Afrobeat went on to become one of the totemic genres of 20th century African music.

Over Allen's thrilling beat, Fela laid out his revolutionary and pan-African message, which led him to become one of the abiding icons of the struggle for freedom across the continent.

Allen and Fela recorded around 40 albums together in Africa '70, before parting ways after a mythic 26-year collaboration.

Such was the hole that Allen left in his band, Fela needed four drummers to replace him.

Allen taught himself to play drums from the age of 18, drawing inspiration from American jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker as well as contemporary African music.

He remained hugely influential and beloved by generations of musicians.

British musician and producer Brian Eno has called Allen "perhaps the greatest drummer who ever lived".

Allen was the drummer in the supergroup The Good, the Bad & the Queen, also featuring Blur singer Damon Albarn and The Clash bassist Paul Simonon, which released its second album in 2018.

He lived in the Paris suburb Courbevoie.


© Agence France-Presse










Today's News

May 1, 2020

In Seoul, the art world gets back to business

Italian 'Arte Povera' art critic Germano Celant dies

Art auction to raise funds for the Emergency Art Workers Support Fund in Scotland

Christie's to offer one of the largest lunar meteorites in existence for private sale

The National Gallery celebrates doctors, carers and nurses with exhibition

Brian Eno's 15 essential ambient works

Ricardo Brennand, Brazilian entrepreneur and collector, dies at 92

Their Met Gala, their way. You're invited.

Marina Adams joins Stephen Friedman Gallery

Portraits that more than meet the eye

Danish poet Yahya Hassan dead at 24

Dozens of DFW sports icons and Heritage Auctions are 'In This Together' for the North Texas Food Bank

Bollywood mourns another star as Rishi Kapoor dies at 67

Argentine tango dancers go solo awaiting embrace lost to pandemic

Emptied by virus, Lithuanian airport turns into drive-in cinema

Barber Home brings art to people living under lockdown and offers support for artists

Irrfan Khan: Mira Nair remembers her 'Namesake' star

Quality collections produce strong prices at spring fine & decorative arts auction

ICA Miami commissions new digital works from four Miami artists

VR art show is gallery of future, say organisers

Legendary drummer and afrobeat co-founder Tony Allen dies

People have gone full 1800s

Adam M. Levine begins Toledo Museum of Art directorship

Peru's Ayahuasca Industry Harvesting the Ayahuasca Vine at an alarming rate

Understanding Celebrity Net Worth Information

How NASCAR are Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak

Exploring 5 Powerful Mental Health Benefits of Art




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful