Tony Allen, 1940-2020

First of all, it's great to be back on Global A Go-Go after hiding out from Covid-19 for 2-1/2 months.  Thank you to Eric Godsey for filling in for me during that time -- you can now check Eric out every other Tuesday morning between 6 and 8 AM on WRIR's Tuesday Morning Breakfast Blend, where he shares the time slot with Georgie Isaacs.

For my return, I'd like to start with a program in tribute to the great Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, who passed away on April 30.  He's one of my favorite musicians of all time in any genre: a drummer whose effortlessly cool style both defined and transcended Afrobeat, the genre of music he essentially co-invented alongside Fela Kuti.

On this week's program (Monday June 1, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) you'll hear two hours of Tony Allen's drumming from all seven decades of his career.   We'll range from his early days with Fela in the Koola Lobitos and the legendary Afrika 70, to his solo career, his electronica experiments, his many collaborations and the new album he just released in March with Hugh Masakela.

Podcast: radio4all.net/index.php/program/105818
All the podcasts: radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go


Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year

Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001

Tony Allen | Nigeria-France | Moving On | Film Of Life | Jazz Village | 2014
Tony Allen with Afrobeat 2000 | Nigeria-France | When One Road Close | N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always) | Earthworks | 1984

Fela Ransome Kuti & His Koola Lobitos | Nigeria | It's Highlife Time | Fela Ransome Kuti & His Koola Lobitos | Parlophone | 1965
Fela Ransome Kuti & His Koola Lobitos | Nigeria | Ajo | Highlife-Jazz & Afro-Soul (1963-69) | Knitting Factory | 1967?
Fela Ransome Kuti & The Africa 70 | Nigeria | Roforofo Fight | Music Of Fela: Roforofo Fight | Editions Makossa | 1972

Fela & Afrika 70 | Nigeria | Zombie | Zombie | Coconut | 1977

Tony Allen & The Afro Messengers | Nigeria | No Discrimination | No Discrimination | Grandstar | 1979
Tony Allen | Nigeria-France | The Same Blood | Black Voices | Comet | 1999

Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela | Nigeria-France-South Africa | Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same) | Rejoice | World Circuit | 2020
Tony Allen | Nigeria-France | Moyege | Lagos No Shaking | Honest Jon's | 2005
Tony Allen | Nigeria-France | Secret Agent | Secret Agent | World Circuit | 2009

Sia Tolno | Sierra Leone-Guinee Conakry | Waka Waka Woman | African Woman | Lusafrica | 2014
Jimi Tenor & Tony Allen | Finland-Nigeria-France | Against The Wall | Inspiration Information 4 | Strut | 2009
Angelique Kidjo | Benin-France | Crosseyed And Painless | Remain In Light | Kravenworks | 2018
Boozoo Bajou | Germany | Yoruba Road | The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble | Comet | 2001