Tony Allen, the fomer drummer of legendary Afro Beat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti's Africa 70, will mount the stage at the Alliance Francaise in Accra with his twelve-piece Band on Saturday November 22 with a powerful concert.
One of the world's original rhythmic masters, Allen is widely known for his co-creation of the now famous Afro Beat. He also pioneered alongside Fela, a new blend of Jazz, traditional Arican Juju and Highlife music in the mid 1960s.
Allen, who begun playing Jazz with Fela in 1964, toured the United States with Fela in 1969 where they met, worked and collaborated with many top African American musicians who were greatly impressed with the Afro Beat style.
He recorded his first three solo albums while still a member of Fela's Africa 70 before breaking away to produce the classic hit "Discrimination" with his group "The Afro Mesengers" in 1978.
Allen went into near obscurity for ten years while living in France but re-surfaced after the death of Fela by recording a sensational comeback album with the Hip Hop producer Doctor L while another album "Black Voices" managed to update Afro Beat with a spectacular vitality.
His career has since blossomed with Afro Beat at the epicenter of his revival. Most of his back catalgue has been re-released alongside various remix projects which has broadened his audience beyond the boundaries of world music.
Several British vocalists including his long term admirer, Damon Albarn, joined him in his most recent album "Home Cooking" as he takes pride for a place among a stellar caste of contributors to the Fela tribute "Red Hot + Riot".
Allen's polyrhythmic but uniquely economical style of drumming has allowed him to develop a distinctively cool vocal technique that enebles him to sing while playing with relative ease.
