Drummer Tony Allen, the driver of the Afrobeat sound, has died at age 79. Allen started drumming in Nigeria’s Lagos in the 1960s and formed a partnership with guitarist and composer Fela Kuti. They are credited with launching Afrobeat dance music.
In this photo taken Wednesday, April 5, 2017, pioneering African drummer Tony Allen, whose influential career spanned decades and continents, poses for a portrait ahead of a concert with Senegalese musician Cheikh Lo in Dakar, Senegal.
Allen died Thursday night at the Pompidou Hospital of an aortic aneurysm, his manager Eric Trosset confirmed to The Associated Press. With a prolific output throughout the 1970s, Allen and Kuti gained sales and fame throughout Africa, Europe and North America.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tony Allen, Pioneering Afrobeat Drummer, Has DiedTony Allen, the pioneering Afrobeat drummer whose work with Fela Kuti and Africa 70 defined a genre, has died
Read more »
Tony Allen, Afrobeat's Foundational Drummer, Has Died At Age 79Tony Allen was one of the founders of the deep-grooved Afrobeat style — alongside his musical collaborator, Fela Kuti. The drummer died Wednesday evening in Paris of a heart attack.
Read more »
Influential Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen has died in ParisTributes have poured in for Tony Allen, who has been hailed as a pioneering drummer who brought Afrobeat to the world in the 70s and played with Damon Albarn and Africa Express
Read more »
Tony Allen, famed Afrobeat drummer with Fela Kuti, dies at 79Nigerian percussionist Tony Allen was best known for his work with Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti's band Africa 70, and went on to play with Damon Albarn and Flea.
Read more »
Nigerian drummer and Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen dies at 79Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, co-creator of the pulsating West African style of music known as Afrobeat, is dead at age 79
Read more »
How Fela Kuti Drummer Tony Allen Rediscovered His Jazz RootsIn 2017, Tony Allen told us why he ditched vocals and went in search of a new sound. The pioneering Afrobeat drummer died Thursday
Read more »