Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen dies aged 79

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By Andreas Wiseman

Little Richard, the self-proclaimed “architect of rock ‘n’ roll” who built his ground-breaking sound with a boiling blend of boogie-woogie, rhythm and blues and gospel, died on Saturday at the age of 87.

Music legend Little Richard has died aged 87.

Gorillaz have shared the fourth song from their Song Machine series. "How Far?" features London grime king Skepta and the iconic Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, who died last week. The song “was written and recorded with Skepta in London just before lockdown and is being shared immediately as a tribute to the spirit of a great man, Tony Allen,” the band said in a statement to press over the weekend.

Idir, an Algerian singer who gave voice to the Berber and Kabyle cultures, has died in Paris. He was 70.Saturday’s (May 2) death of the singer, whose real name was Hamid Cheriet, was confirmed on a post on his official Facebook page that read “we regret to announce the passing of our father (to all), Idir.

By Jordan Moreau

Gorillaz are paying tribute to late Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen with the release of the band's new song "How Far?""The track was written and recorded with Skepta in London just before lockdown and is being shared immediately as a tribute to the spirit of a great man, Tony Allen," Gorillaz said in a statement Saturday (May 2).Allen, a longtime friend and music collaborator of Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn, is also featured on the track.

The track is Damon Albarn's most recent collaboration with Allen

He was considered one of the world’s best and greatest drummers. Yes, we are talking about Tony Allen. The legendary Nigerian drummer who also co-founded the popular Afrobeat genre breathed his last on Wednesday evening. He was 79 and died of a heart attack in Paris as revealed by his manager Eric Trosset which also clarifies his death has no link to Coronavirus. Tony had collaborated with another noted musician Fela Kuti and was a part of the latter’s band Africa ’70.

It’s difficult to exaggerate the scale of Tony Allen’s talent and influence. The Nigerian drummer joined Fela Kuti’s band when the soon-to-be-legendary performer was still impersonating James Brown. Allen introduced the iconic polyrhythms that would define Afrobeat music as much as Fela’s saxophone or outsized personality. He died suddenly from an aneurysm yesterday in Paris, leaving behind a legacy that spans decades, genres, and continents.

Tony Allen, drummer, Fela Kuti collaborator and celebrated innovator of the Afrobeat genre, has died. He was 79.