Tony Allen, who created afrobeat with his old bandmate Fela Kuti.
Died all of the sudden at the age of 79 in Paris on Thursday.
Maybe, He is the greatest drummer who ever lived.
Legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, who created afrobeat alongside together with his old bandmate Fela Kuti. Died all of the sudden at the age of 79 in Paris on Thursday.
“We do not know the exact cause of death,” manager Eric Trosset, including it is not coronavirus.
“He was in great shape, it was fairly sudden. I spoke to him at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT). Two hours later he was sick and brought to Pompidou hospital where he died.”
Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti’s band Africa ’70 within the 1960s and 1970s.
Throughout that time the pair created afrobeat. Combining West African musical styles equivalent to highlife and fuji music with American imports jazz and funk.
Afrobeat went on to change into one of many 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 develop into one of the abiding icons of the struggle for freedom throughout the continent.
Allen and Fela recorded around 40 albums collectively in Africa ’70, before parting ways after a mythic 26-year collaboration.
Such the hole that Allen left in his band, Fela wanted 4 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 in addition to modern African music.
He remained massively influential and beloved by generations of musicians.
British musician and producer Brian Eno has called Allen “maybe the greatest drummer who ever lived”.
Allen was the drummer within the supergroup The Good, the Bad & the Queen. Additionally featuring Blur singer Damon Albarn and The Clash bassist Paul Simonon, which launched its second album in 2018.
He lived in the Paris suburb Courbevoie.
