Artist Name: Youssou N'Dour
Genre: African Pop, Mbalax, Senegalese Pop
Country: Senegal
Bio: From
National Geographic Senegal's golden-throated pop colossus Youssou N'Dour wowed his first audience when he was just 12, and went on to conquer much of the world with his blend of traditional sabar and tama drumming, Latin dance music, rock and R&B. Though N'Dour's mother came from a griot family, his father opposed his son's musical career. But once the Senegalese heard N'Dour's majestic voice, life in the civil service was out of the question.
In 1979, "Dakar's Little Prince" formed the Super Etoiles, and became the most popular singer of Senegal's mbalax pop style. N'Dour soon won the ear of Peter Gabriel, who eventually invited him to join Amnesty International's "Human Rights Now" world tour in 1988. N'Dour still works with many of his original musicians, including talking drum master Assane Thiam, Babacar Faye on sabar drums, and bassist, keyboard player and arranger Habib Faye. Softening the jagged sabar rhythms to create savvy, contemporary pop, N'Dour sings in five languages to reach the widest possible audience. N'Dour then built a state-of-the-art recording studio called Xippi or "Eyes Open" for musicians in Dakar. Early Xippi releases include
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