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Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen dies aged 79 | Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen dies aged 79 |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Pioneering Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, a co-founder of the afrobeat musical genre, died in Paris on Thursday aged 79, his manager says. | |
"We don't know the exact cause of death," Eric Trosset told AFP, adding it was not linked to the coronavirus. | "We don't know the exact cause of death," Eric Trosset told AFP, adding it was not linked to the coronavirus. |
Allen was the drummer and musical director of musician Fela Kuti's famous band Africa '70 in the 1960-70s. | Allen was the drummer and musical director of musician Fela Kuti's famous band Africa '70 in the 1960-70s. |
Kuti, who died in 1997, once said that "without Tony Allen, there would be no afrobeat". | |
Allen has also been described by UK musician Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived". | Allen has also been described by UK musician Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived". |
Allen's career and life story were documented in his 2013 autobiography Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat, | Allen's career and life story were documented in his 2013 autobiography Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat, |
Afrobeat combines elements of West Africa's fuji music and highlife styles with American funk and jazz. | Afrobeat combines elements of West Africa's fuji music and highlife styles with American funk and jazz. |
Allen, who was born in Lagos in 1940, taught himself how to play drums when he was 18. | Allen, who was born in Lagos in 1940, taught himself how to play drums when he was 18. |
He said he learnt his technique by mimicking American jazz drummer Max Roach. | He said he learnt his technique by mimicking American jazz drummer Max Roach. |
Allen first met Fela Kuti in 1964, and they went on to record dozens of albums in Africa '70, including Gentleman and Zombie. | Allen first met Fela Kuti in 1964, and they went on to record dozens of albums in Africa '70, including Gentleman and Zombie. |
Allen left the band in 1979, after reported rifts with Kuti over royalties. Kuti needed four separate drummers to fill the void. | Allen left the band in 1979, after reported rifts with Kuti over royalties. Kuti needed four separate drummers to fill the void. |
Allen emigrated to London in 1984, and later moved to Paris. | Allen emigrated to London in 1984, and later moved to Paris. |
He collaborated with a number of artists during his long music career, and was the drummer in The Good, the Bad & the Queen, with Damon Albarn, Paul Simenon and Simon Tong. | He collaborated with a number of artists during his long music career, and was the drummer in The Good, the Bad & the Queen, with Damon Albarn, Paul Simenon and Simon Tong. |