Drums of Passion, Babtunde Olatunji
This week we celebrate both Babatunde's 82nd birthday and the 6th year anniversary since his passing.
Why? Because we love beats. Everybody loves beats. We especially like the African ones. Primal, hypnotic, cathartic, magnetic, explosive. You won't catch people's eyes shaking, bodies throbbing or asses clapping to Strauss' 'Blue Danube'. You will catch that happening to Fela Kuti's jams, Timbaland's loops and Ladysaw's riddims. Heck, you might even catch the odd ass clap during Paul Simon's concert in the park. The common link? The African groove. Babatunde was the groove guru.
Nigerian born he moved to the States in 1950. Apart from introducing millions of Americans to 'world music' starting with his debut album DRUMS OF PASSION in 1959, Babatunde was a prolific musician, a teacher, a scholar and a social activist.
He played alongside such music legends as John Coltrane, Cannonball Alderly, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Bob Marley. He toured the southern states speaking out for social justice and equality along side Rev Martin Luther King Jr. He wrote and published books drawing links between music and the evolution of political beliefs. He toured colleges and schools all round the world to pass on his understanding of groove and his secrets on how to spank the f*!k out of a drum. Baba kept playing, recording, speaking, writing and teaching until his death aged 75 on April 6, 2003. May he rest in peace. The man was a legend.
We will be hitting up Samurai Sushi for Babatunde's 'surprise birthday treat' this coming Tuesday.
Release: Album
To Cure: A predictable playlist
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