Babatunde olatunji, nigerianborn drummer born april 7, 1927, ajido, nigeriadied april 6, 2003, salinas, calif. Drums of passion is an album released by nigerian percussionist babatunde olatunji in 1960. Babatunde olatunji biography, albums, streaming links. Jin go lo ba the drums of passion by babatunde olatunji. I was much more familiar with its africanamerican decendents. Babatunde olatunji is master of drums, a virtuoso of west african percussion. Six years after olatunji s death at age 75, and 50 years after its original release, drums of passion has received the deluxe treatment as a beautifully packaged 2xcd containing its companion. The spiritual powers of the drum and drumming are the focus of this dvd. Listen free to babatunde olatunji drums of passion akiwowo chant to the trainman, oya primitive fire and more. Olatunji more drums of passion 1966, vinyl discogs. Forming a nigerian folklore ensemble with the african expatriate community, he recorded the landmark album drums of passion in 1959. Through his many albums and live performances, the nigerian drummer popularized west african traditional music and spread his message of racial harmony.
Baba olatunji performs song akiwowo at new years eve concert opening for the grateful dead in 1986. Babatunde olatunji came to the united states to study medicine and ended up becoming a musician. Billed as traditional african meditation music, this provocative mix of tribal wails, chants, and hypnotic percussion patterns is the first posthumous release from a nigerian master whose impact on western culture was profound and demands attention. Max roachs freedom now suite, drums of passion, and the rose that grew from concrete, volume 1. African folk music as well as world music in general was and still is just a budding passion. Columbia legacys reissue of drums of passion offers a chance for new listeners to fully appreciate the groundbreaking 1959 debut cd of the late african drummer michael babatunde olatunji. Following his leadership, african drumming has come to play an increasingly important role in contemporary american music and culture. In 2002, it was released as a single layer stereo and 5.
Drums of passion is an album of towering rhythm and deep mysticism. Olatunji s subsequent recordings include drums of passion. Babatunde olatunji led a rich life of creativity and passion and chesky is honored to have produced olatunji s last commercial release, love drum talk, nominated for the 1998 grammy award of best world music album. Unquestionably, it was the first recording to popularize african music in the west, becoming immensely successful and selling over five million copies.
Originally released in 1960, babatunde olatunji s drums of passion is considered to be the first world music album recorded in the united states. The album was a huge hit, remaining in print for decades and standing as one of the first examples of the american recordbuying. Free add to library babatunde olatunji mp3 sound on. At first he used the name michael olatunji he had previously used michael babatunde olatunji as a christianized form of his name, but later printings restored the name babatunde olatunji. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Beat of my drum olatunji loyin loyin olatunji ife loju laiye olatunji. Babatunde olatunji, the nigerian drummer, bandleader and world beat pioneer who first brought authentic african music to the united states with his 1959 album, drums of passion. Unquestionably, it was the first recording to popularize african. Babatunde olatunji drums of passion live 85 youtube. Both olatunji and his drums of passion were unknown to me when i discovered this cd. Signed to columbia, olatunji released drums of passion in 1959. Olatunji had a profound impact on everyone who knew him and everyone who had been touched by his love for the drum and the african culture that nurtured that love. If olatunji debuted in todays environment, he would be subjected to much tougher scrutiny and evaluation regarding authenticity than he received in the 60s.
Much to his surprise, this recording of traditional drums and chants charted for years and made him very influential. Drummer babatunde olatunji pioneer nigerian musician. Babatunde olatunji was born 1927 in the small village of ajido, nigeria, about forty miles from lagos, the capital of the country. For nearly fifty years he spread a message of love with his drum. Mickey hart produced this album which is a remixed version of the album dance to the beat of my drum. Babatunde olatunji dance to the beat of my drum jazzfunk, africanus1986 full album additivesphere duration. Babatunde olatunji drums of passion 1959 babatunde olatunji was a virtuoso drummer who became a sensation in the 60s with his albums of traditional nigerian drumming and chanting. When he first appeared on the scene in america, babatunde olatunji was acclaimed by artists such as john coltrane and dizzy gillespie. Olatunji and his group, renamed the drums of passion, spent the sixties performing in schools, colleges and, increasingly, in jazz clubs where their sound proved a potent influence upon talents. The nigerian drummer babatunde olatunji, who has died aged 75, played a key role in furthering the appreciation of african and specifically nigerian. As influential as this breakthrough record has been, it is.
Babatunde olatunji s record album drums of passion proclaimed that the time had come for america to recognize africas cultural contributions to the music world. Babatunde olatunji has been hailed as the father of african drumming in the united states. Music profile for babatunde olatunji, born 7 april 1927. Nigerianborn drummer michael babatunde olatunji grew to international fame beginning in the late 50s with his groundbreaking 1959 capitol records debut drums of passion. Drums of passion has gone on to sell more than 5 million copies and has influenced a diverse array of musicians.
Babatunde olatunji more drums of passion album art olatunji more drums. Listen to your favorite songs from drums of passion. Babatunde olatunji featuring special performances with members of drums of passion. Hailed as a genius by none other than jazz greats john coltrane, count basie, duke ellington and dizzy gillespie and referenced by bob dylan on his freewheeling album, olatunji has also toured with the rev. Nigerianborn drummer babatunde olatunji 19372003 collaborated with mickey hart to create this album, issued in 1988 as part of the world series now. Jingoloba drums of passion babatunde olatunji shazam. Percussionist babatunde olatunji was born in a yorubaspeaking fishing village in nigeria in 1927 and succumbed to diabetes in salinas, california in 2003. His seminal album, drums of passion 1959, was credited with sparking a vogue for. African drumming by babatunde olatunji featuring special. Jingoloba drums of passion jingoloba drums of passion babatunde olatunji. While studying in new york city, olatunji formed an african drum and dance group. Babatunde olatunji listen on deezer music streaming.
Babatunde olatunji artist hdtracks the worlds greatest. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. This is the second new recording by percussion master babatunde olatunji for mickey harts series the world. The beat 1989 which included airto moreira and carlos santana, love drum talk 1997, circle of drums 2005 originally titled cosmic rhythm vibrations, with muruga booker and sikiru adepoju, and olatunji live at starwood 2003 recorded. Babatunde olatunji listen to babatunde olatunji on deezer. Why might circle of drums, a previouslyunreleased 1993 recording, be of interest. The beat was written and coproduced with mickey hart by nigerian artist babatunde olatunji 19372003 and features guests brazilian. Try disabling any ad blockers and refreshing this page. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at.