Ali Farka Touré: The Eternal Conservative-Innovator (RIP)

Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré (October 31, 1939 – March 7, 2006) was a Malian singer and guitarist, and one of the African continent’s most internationally renowned musicians. His music is widely regarded as representing a point of intersection of traditional Malian music and its North American cousin, the blues.


The belief that the latter is historically derived from the former is reflected in Martin Scorsese’s often quoted characterization of Touré’s tradition as constituting "the DNA of the blues". Touré was ranked number 76 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.


- Discography (Source: Wikipedia):

* 1976 - Ali Touré Farka (Sonafric 50016-LP)
* 1976 - Spécial « Biennale du Mali » (Sonafric 50020-LP)
* 1978 - Biennale (Sonafric 50032-LP)
* 1979 - Ali Touré Farka (Sonafric 50060-LP)
* 1980 - Ali Touré dit Farka (Sonafric 50085-LP)
* 1984 - Ali Farka Touré (Red) (Sonodisc/Esperance 5558)
* 1988 - Ali Farka Touré (Green) (Sonodisc/Esperance 8448)
* 1988 - Ali Farka Touré (World Circuit WCD007 / Mango 9826)
* 1990 - African Blues (Shanachie 65002)
* 1990 - The River (World Circuit WCD017 / Mango 9897)
* 1993 - The Source (World Circuit WCD030 / Hannibal 1375) with Taj Mahal
* 1994 - Talking Timbuktu (World Circuit WCD040 / Hannibal 1381) (with Ry Cooder)
* 1996 - Radio Mali (World Circuit WCD044 / Nonesuch 79569) (remastered selections of original albums from 1975 through 1980)
* 1999 - Niafunké (World Circuit WCD054 / Hannibal 1443)
* 2002 - Mississippi to Mali (Rounder B0000DJZA1)(with Corey Harris)
* 2004 - Red&Green (World Circuit WCD070 / Nonesuch 79882) (remastered original albums from 1984 and 1988)
* 2005 - In the Heart of the Moon (World Circuit WCD072 / Nonesuch 79920) (with Toumani Diabaté and Ry Cooder)
* 2006 - Savane (World Circuit WCD075 / Nonesuch 79965)
* 2010 - Ali and Toumani - (World Circuit/Nonesuch Records) with Toumani Diabaté