Vieux Farka Touré
Encyclopedia
Boureima "Vieux" Farka Touré is a Malian
singer and guitarist. He is the son of Grammy-winning Malian musician Ali Farka Touré
.
, Mali in 1981 to Ali Farka Touré. Despite his father's discouragement and his family's lineage as a tribe of soldiers, Touré secretly took up the guitar and enrolled in the Institut National des Arts in Bamako, Mali
.
In 2005, Eric Herman
of Modiba
expressed interest in producing an album for Touré; to do so, he had to acquire permission from Ali Touré, Toumani Diabaté
, and other community elders. This led to his self-titled debut album, produced by Modiba and released by World Village on 12 February 2007. The album featured Toumani Diabaté, as well as his late father.
Following the release of a remix album, UFOs Over Bamako in 2008, and multiple tours, Vieux released his second studio album in May 2009. Fondo peaked at #5 on Billboard's
World Albums chart the week of 11 July 2009 and was included in the Village Voice's Top 100 list for 2009.
In June 2010, Vieux was invited to perform at the Opening Celebration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
; other performers included Shakira
, Alicia Keys
and K’naan. That month, Vieux also released his first live album, LIVE.
Vieux released his third studio album, The Secret, on May 24, 2011. The album was produced by Soulive
guitarist Eric Krasno and features Dave Matthews
, Derek Trucks
, and John Scofield
. It also features the last collaboration between Touré and his late father. The album reached the #1 spot on CMJ's New World chart on 10 June 2011.
Malian
Malian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Mali, a country in West Africa.* A person from Mali or of Malian descent. For information about the Malian people, see Demographics of Mali and Culture of Mali. For specific persons, see List of Malians....
singer and guitarist. He is the son of Grammy-winning Malian musician Ali Farka Touré
Ali Farka Touré
Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré was a Malian singer and guitarist, and one of the African continent’s most internationally renowned musicians. His music is widely regarded as representing a point of intersection of traditional Malian music and its North American cousin, the blues...
.
Biography
Touré was born in NiafunkéNiafunké
- External links :* Short album description and sample of Tulumba....
, Mali in 1981 to Ali Farka Touré. Despite his father's discouragement and his family's lineage as a tribe of soldiers, Touré secretly took up the guitar and enrolled in the Institut National des Arts in Bamako, Mali
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
.
In 2005, Eric Herman
Eric Herman
Eric Herman is a children's music performer based in the Pacific Northwest. His music combines various styles of rock music with often wryly humorous kid-related lyrics to create what he refers to as "cool tunes for kids"...
of Modiba
Modiba
Modiba is a New York City-based independent record label, production company, and music publishing company focused on international artists and social activism. The label was started in 2004 by Wesleyan University seniors Eric Herman and Jesse Brenner...
expressed interest in producing an album for Touré; to do so, he had to acquire permission from Ali Touré, Toumani Diabaté
Toumani Diabaté
Toumani Diabaté is a Malian kora player. In addition to performing the traditional music of Mali, he has also been involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles.-Biography:...
, and other community elders. This led to his self-titled debut album, produced by Modiba and released by World Village on 12 February 2007. The album featured Toumani Diabaté, as well as his late father.
Following the release of a remix album, UFOs Over Bamako in 2008, and multiple tours, Vieux released his second studio album in May 2009. Fondo peaked at #5 on Billboard's
Billboard
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
World Albums chart the week of 11 July 2009 and was included in the Village Voice's Top 100 list for 2009.
In June 2010, Vieux was invited to perform at the Opening Celebration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
; other performers included Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
, Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
and K’naan. That month, Vieux also released his first live album, LIVE.
Vieux released his third studio album, The Secret, on May 24, 2011. The album was produced by Soulive
Soulive
Soulive is a funk/jazz trio that originated in Woodstock, New York, and is known for its solos and catchy, upbeat songs. The band consists of Eric Krasno , Alan Evans , Neal Evans...
guitarist Eric Krasno and features Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
, Derek Trucks
Derek Trucks
Derek Trucks is a Grammy Award-winning, American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He founded The Derek Trucks Band and worked as a session musician when he was still in his early teens. Throughout those teenage years, he toured with The Allman Brothers Band primarily as a slide...
, and John Scofield
John Scofield
John Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...
. It also features the last collaboration between Touré and his late father. The album reached the #1 spot on CMJ's New World chart on 10 June 2011.
Discography
- Vieux Farka Touré (2007)
- Vieux Farka Touré Remixed: UFOs Over Bamako (2008)
- Fondo (2009)
- LIVE (2010)
- The Secret (2011)