Alpha Yaya Diallo is a Guinean-born Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter.[1] He incorporates Guinea's rich musical tradition into his original compositions. Diallo has won two Juno Awards, shared a third, and was nominated another three times.[2]
Diallo was born in Conakry, the capital of Guinea.[1] When he was young, he followed his father, a doctor who was in demand all around the country; this exposed him to a wide variety of cultural experiences, both from the different ethnic groups within Guinea itself and from neighbouring countries.[3]
When Guinea gained its independence from France in 1958, its Marxist first president, Ahmed Sékou Touré, launched a cultural program aimed at the rediscovery and support of "Guinea's music, arts, dance and languages."[4] Diallo recalled that, "At the time every family had a member who was being trained in music."[5] He started playing percussion in school, but taught himself to play the guitar at an early age (either "probably six or seven"[5] or 12,[1][3] according to his inconsistent recollections). At the University of Conakry, he became the bandleader of the Sons of Rais and toured extensively with them throughout West Africa.[1] After graduation, he performed with Love Systems, Kaloum Star and Sorsornet Rhythm.[1]
Diallo moved to Europe in the mid-1980s, where he worked particularly with the Fatala group, which played traditional Guinean music and was associated with Peter Gabriel's music label.[1][3] After extensive touring, Diallo settled down in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1991.[1][3] In 1993, he released his solo first album, Nene, which was nominated for a Juno Award, as was his 1996 album Futur.[2] He won his first Juno, for The Message in 1999 in the "Best World Music Album" category, a second in 2002 for The Journey and shared a third in 2004 for the African Guitar Summit compilation.[2] He released Djama in 2005.[6] He won the Best World Artist-Solo at the inaugural Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2006.[7] He plays with Ghanaian guitarist Pa Joe Diallo, Adam Solomo and Mighty Popo in African Guitar Summit.[3][8] In addition to the guitar, he also plays the balafon and the djembe.[1] His backup band, since 1992, is called Baffing.[1]
He produced a film documentary entitled Best of Both Worlds, which was filmed in West Africa, Canada and France.[8]
Discographyedit
1993: Néné (Bafing Productions) – nominated for a Juno Award[2]
1996: Futur (Bafing Productions) – nominated for a Juno Award[2]
1998: The Message (Bafing Productions) – won the Juno Award for Best Global Album[2]
^ abcdeDacks, David (27 June 2010). "Alpha Yaya Diallo". Exclaim!.
^Camara, Mohamed Saliou; O'Toole, Thomas; Baker, Janice E. (7 November 2013). Historical Dictionary of Guinea. Scarecrow Press. p. 222. ISBN9780810879690.
^ ab"Alpha Yaya Diallo: Musical Mixologist by Dave O Rama". BC Musician. 25 May 2015.
^. Festival International Nuits d'Afrique de Montréal. 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
^Greg Quill, "Signs of strength in roots music; Great Big Sea ushered in Maritime revival", Toronto Star, 5 January 2006.
^ abGraham Rockingham (23 February 2006). "Diallo singing for his people in Africa". Retrieved 7 January 2012. [dead link]
^"The JUNO Awards: World Music Album of the Year (2003-Present)". Juno Awards.
alpha, yaya, diallo, malian, drummer, yaya, diallo, guinean, born, canadian, guitarist, singer, songwriter, incorporates, guinea, rich, musical, tradition, into, original, compositions, diallo, juno, awards, shared, third, nominated, another, three, times, bac. For the Malian drummer see Yaya Diallo Alpha Yaya Diallo is a Guinean born Canadian guitarist singer and songwriter 1 He incorporates Guinea s rich musical tradition into his original compositions Diallo has won two Juno Awards shared a third and was nominated another three times 2 Alpha Yaya DialloBackground informationBornGuineaOccupation s Musician singer songwriterInstrument s Vocals guitar balafon djembeYears active1980s presentLabelsJericho BeachWebsitealphayayadiallo wbr com Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 3 References 4 External linksBiography editDiallo was born in Conakry the capital of Guinea 1 When he was young he followed his father a doctor who was in demand all around the country this exposed him to a wide variety of cultural experiences both from the different ethnic groups within Guinea itself and from neighbouring countries 3 When Guinea gained its independence from France in 1958 its Marxist first president Ahmed Sekou Toure launched a cultural program aimed at the rediscovery and support of Guinea s music arts dance and languages 4 Diallo recalled that At the time every family had a member who was being trained in music 5 He started playing percussion in school but taught himself to play the guitar at an early age either probably six or seven 5 or 12 1 3 according to his inconsistent recollections At the University of Conakry he became the bandleader of the Sons of Rais and toured extensively with them throughout West Africa 1 After graduation he performed with Love Systems Kaloum Star and Sorsornet Rhythm 1 Diallo moved to Europe in the mid 1980s where he worked particularly with the Fatala group which played traditional Guinean music and was associated with Peter Gabriel s music label 1 3 After extensive touring Diallo settled down in Vancouver British Columbia Canada in 1991 1 3 In 1993 he released his solo first album Nene which was nominated for a Juno Award as was his 1996 album Futur 2 He won his first Juno for The Message in 1999 in the Best World Music Album category a second in 2002 for The Journey and shared a third in 2004 for the African Guitar Summit compilation 2 He released Djama in 2005 6 He won the Best World Artist Solo at the inaugural Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2006 7 He plays with Ghanaian guitarist Pa Joe Diallo Adam Solomo and Mighty Popo in African Guitar Summit 3 8 In addition to the guitar he also plays the balafon and the djembe 1 His backup band since 1992 is called Baffing 1 He produced a film documentary entitled Best of Both Worlds which was filmed in West Africa Canada and France 8 Discography edit1993 Nene Bafing Productions nominated for a Juno Award 2 1996 Futur Bafing Productions nominated for a Juno Award 2 1998 The Message Bafing Productions won the Juno Award for Best Global Album 2 2001 The Journey Jericho Beach Music won the Juno Award for Best Global Album 2 2004 African Guitar Summit CBC Recordings collaboration won the Juno Award in Best World Music Album category 9 2005 Djama Jericho Beach Music nominated for a Juno Award 2 2010 Imme Jericho Beach Music References edit a b c d e f g h i O Toole Thomas Baker Janice E 16 March 2005 Historical Dictionary of Guinea Scarecrow Press pp 65 66 ISBN 9780810865457 a b c d e f g h The JUNO Awards Alpha Yaya Diallo Juno Awards a b c d e Dacks David 27 June 2010 Alpha Yaya Diallo Exclaim Camara Mohamed Saliou O Toole Thomas Baker Janice E 7 November 2013 Historical Dictionary of Guinea Scarecrow Press p 222 ISBN 9780810879690 a b Alpha Yaya Diallo Musical Mixologist by Dave O Rama BC Musician 25 May 2015 Alpha Yaya Diallo Festival International Nuits d Afrique de Montreal 2011 Archived from the original on 19 July 2010 Retrieved 7 January 2012 Greg Quill Signs of strength in roots music Great Big Sea ushered in Maritime revival Toronto Star 5 January 2006 a b Graham Rockingham 23 February 2006 Diallo singing for his people in Africa Retrieved 7 January 2012 dead link The JUNO Awards World Music Album of the Year 2003 Present Juno Awards External links editAlpha Yaya Diallo at AllMusic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alpha Yaya Diallo amp oldid 1144730684, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
