Tony Allen (musician)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Tony Oladipo Allen (12 August 1940 – 30 April 2020) was a Nigerian composer, musician and drummer. Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti's band Africa '70 from 1968 to 1979, and was one of the co-founders of Afrobeat.
He subsequently recorded his first solo Never Expect Power Always (1984) which appeared on Earthworks in 1984.
He collaborated with Manu Dibango, Ray Lema and Roy Ayers.
Later solo work of note includes the Black Voices (1999).
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Early career
Allen was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He began playing drums at the age of 18, while working as an engineer for a radio station. Allen was influenced by music his father listened to Jùjú, a popular Yoruba music from the 1940s, but also American jazz, and the growing highlife scene in Nigeria and Ghana. Allen worked hard to develop a unique voice on the drums, feverishly studying LPs and magazine articles by Max Roach and Art Blakey, but also revolutionary Ghanaian drummer Guy Warren (later known as Kofi Ghanaba – who developed a highly sought-after sound that mixed tribal Ghanaian drumming with bop – working with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Max Roach).
Allen was hired by "Sir" Victor Olaiya to play claves with his highlife band, the Cool Cats. Allen was able to fill the drum set chair when the former Cool Cats drummer left the band. Allen later played with Agu Norris and the Heatwaves, the Nigerian Messengers, and the Melody Makers.
Fela and Africa '70
In 1964, Fela Kuti invited Allen to audition for a jazz-highlife band he was forming. Kuti and Allen had played together as sidemen in the Lagos circuit. Fela complimented Allen's unique sound: "How come you are the only guy in Nigeria who plays like this – jazz and highlife?" Thus Allen became an original member of Kuti's "Koola Lobitos" highlife-jazz band.
In 1969, following a turbulent and educational trip to the United States, Fela and the newly renamed Africa '70 band developed a new militant African sound, mixing the heavy groove and universal appeal of soul with jazz, highlife, and the polyrhythmic template of Yoruba conventions. Allen developed a novel style to complement Fela's new African groove that blended these disparate genres.
Allen recounts how he and Fela wrote in 1970: "Fela used to write out the parts for all the musicians in the band (Africa '70). I was the only one who originated the music I played. Fela would ask what type of rhythm I wanted to play.… You can tell a good drummer because we… have four limbs… and they are… playing different things… the patterns don't just come from Yoruba… [but] other parts of Nigeria and Africa."
Allen recorded more than 30 albums with Fela and Africa '70. But by the late 1970s, dissension was growing in the ranks of Africa '70. Arguments over royalties/pay and recognition grew in intensity. As inventor of the rhythms that underpinned Afrobeat and musical director, Allen felt especially slighted. Fela stood his ground, stating that he would get the royalties for his songs.
Fela did support Allen's three solo recordings: Jealousy ('75), Progress ('77), No Accommodation For Lagos ('79), but by 1979, Allen chose to leave Africa '70, taking many members with him. "'What makes me decide it's time to go? It's … everything...and (his) carelessness...like he doesn't care, like he doesn't know ...he doesn't feel he's done anything (wrong). And with all the parasites around too.... there were 71 people on tour by now and only 30 working in the band....you got to ask why. Those guys were sapping Fela of his Force, of his Music.' So Tony moved on, once again in search of his own sound."
Afrobeat to Afrofunk
Allen formed his own group, recording No Discrimination in 1980, and performing in Lagos until emigrating to London in 1984. Later moving to Paris, Allen recorded with King Sunny Adé, Ray Lema and Manu Dibango. Allen recorded N.E.P.A. in 1985.
Post-Fela, Allen developed a hybrid sound, deconstructing and fusing Afrobeat with electronica, dub, R&B, and rap. Allen refers to this synthesis as afrofunk.
Allen returned with a much anticipated new project for his 13th release. Recorded live in Lagos, with a full-sized Afrobeat band, Lagos No Shaking (Lagos is OK) signified Allen's return to roots Afrobeat after forays into avant-garde electronica hybrids. Lagos No Shaking was released on 13 June 2006.
Later work
In 2002, Allen appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Red Hot and Riot in tribute to Fela Kuti. Allen appeared alongside Res, Ray Lema, Baaba Maal, Positive Black Soul and Archie Shepp on a track entitled "No Agreement."
Allen played drums throughout the 2003 album Love Trap by Susheela Raman and also performed with her live.
In 2004 Allen recorded with French electronic artist Sébastien Tellier on the album Politics including the hit song "La Ritournelle".
In 2006, Allen joined with The Good, the Bad & the Queen as drummer.
Allen played drums on two tracks on the 2007 album 5:55 by Charlotte Gainsbourg: "5:55" and "Night-Time Intermission", backed by French duo Air and Jarvis Cocker of Pulp.
He also made an appearance playing the drums in the video for "Once Upon a Time" by French duo Air in late 2007.
He was a featured artist on Zap Mama's albums Supermoon (2007) and ReCreation (2009), adding his voice to the tracks "1000 Ways" and "African Diamond." Allen also contributed drums on "People Dansa", an afrobeat rhythm-fuelled track on the second album of the Brazilian singer Flavia Coelho, released in 2014.
His album entitled Secret Agent was released in June 2009 by World Circuit.
Allen collaborated with Albarn and Flea in a project called Rocket Juice and The Moon with an album released in 2012. Albarn collaborated with him again for the single "Go Back" in 2014, that is part of the album Film of Life, released in October.
Allen replaced Vladislav Delay as drummer for the Moritz Von Oswald Trio and appeared on their album Sounding Lines.
In 2017, he released A Tribute to Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, a four-song EP on Blue Note Records featuring a reworked Afrobeat version of Art Blakey's "Moanin'".
In 2017, Allen collaborated with Malian singer Oumou Sangaré for the track "Yere faga" from her album Mogoya.
In 2018, Allen recorded E.P. Tomorrow Comes The Harvest with Jeff Mills.
In 2019, filmmaker Opiyo Okeyo released the documentary film Birth of Afrobeat about Allen's life in music.
In 2020, Allen featured on the Gorillaz track "How Far?" alongside Skepta, as part of the band's Song Machine series.
Death
On April 30, 2020, Allen died of abdominal aortic aneurysm at Georges Pompidou European Hospital in Paris. Tributes came from musicians and producers including Flea, Peter Gabriel, Jeff Mills, Nigel Godrich and Sean Lennon.
Discography
Year | Title | Artist | Label |
---|---|---|---|
1969 | Koola Lobitos (64–68) / The '69 Los Angeles Sessions | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1970 | Fela's London Scene | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1971 | Live! | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1971 | Open & Close | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1972 | Roforofo Fight | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1972 | Shakara | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1973 | Afrodisiac | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1973 | Gentleman | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1974 | Confusion | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1974 | He Miss Road | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1975 | Jealousy | Tony Allen | Soundworkshop |
1975 | Alagbon Close | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1975 | Everything Scatter | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1975 | Excuse O | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1975 | Expensive Shit | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1975 | Monkey Banana | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1975 | Noise For Vendor Mouth | Fela Ransome Kuti | Barclay |
1976 | Ikoyi Blindness | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1976 | Kalakuta Show | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1976 | Na Poi | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1976 | Unnecessary Begging | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1976 | Upside Down | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1976 | Yellow Fever | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1977 | Progress | Tony Allen | Phonogram |
1977 | Fear Not For Man | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1977 | J.J.D – Live at Kalakuta Republik | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1977 | No Agreement | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1977 | Opposite People | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1977 | Sorrow Tears and Blood | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1977 | Shuffering and Shmiling | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1977 | Stalemate | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1977 | Zombie | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1979 | No Accommodation for Lagos | Tony Allen | Phonogram |
1979 | Unknown Soldier | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1979 | V.I.P. | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1979 | No Discrimination | Tony Allen and the Afro Messengers | Shanu Olu Records |
1980 | Music of Many Colours | Fela Anikulapo Kuti / Roy Ayers | Barclay |
1984 | Never Expect Power Always (aka N.E.P.A.) | Tony Allen with Afrobeat 2000 | Moving Target |
1986 | I Go Shout Plenty | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Afrodisia |
1987 | Too Many Prisoners | Tony Allen with Zebra Crossing | Barclay |
1998 | Ariya | Tony Allen | Comet |
1999 | Black Voices | Tony Allen | Comet |
1999 | Ariya (remixes) | Tony Allen | Comet |
1999 | The Two Sides of Fela – Jazz & Dance | Fela Anikulapo Kuti | Barclay |
1999 | Racubah! – A Collection of Modern Afro Rhythms | Various Artists | Comet |
2000 | Black Voices Alternate take Featuring Mike "clip" Payne | Tony Allen | Comet |
2000 | Black Voices Remixed | Tony Allen | Comet |
2000 | Mountains Will Never Surrender | Doctor L | Jive |
2000 | The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble Part 1 | Various Artists | Comet |
2000 | The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble Part 2 | Various Artists | Comet |
2000 | The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble Part 3 | Various Artists | Comet |
2000 | Modern Answers To Old Problems | Ernest Ranglin | Telarc |
2000 | Afrobeat...No Go Die! | Various Artists | Shanachie |
2001 | The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble | Various Artists | Comet |
2001 | The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble Part 4 | Various Artists | Comet |
2001 | The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble Part 5 | Various Artists | Comet |
2001 | The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble Part 6 | Various Artists | Comet |
2001 | Psyco On Da Bus | Tony Allen, Doctor L, Jean Phi Dary, Jeff Kellner, Cesar Anot | Comet |
2002 | Homecooking | Tony Allen | Wrasse Records |
2002 | Every Season | Tony Allen | Comet |
2002 | Eager Hands & Restless Feet | Tony Allen | Wrasse Records |
2004 | Awa Band | Bababatteur | Ekosound |
2004 | Live | Tony Allen | Comet |
2006 | Lagos No Shaking | Tony Allen | Astralwerks |
2007 | The Good, the Bad & the Queen | The Good, the Bad & the Queen | EMI |
2007 | 5:55 | Charlotte Gainsbourg | Because/Vice |
2009 | Secret Agent | Tony Allen | World Circuit Records |
2009 | Inspiration Information 4 | Jimi Tenor & Tony Allen | Strut Records |
2012 | Rocket Juice & the Moon | Rocket Juice & the Moon | Honest Jon's |
2013 | The Rough Guide to African Disco | Various Artists | World Music Network |
2014 | Film of Life | Tony Allen | JazzVillage |
2017 | A Tribute to Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers | Tony Allen | Blue Note Records |
2017 | The Source | Tony Allen | Blue Note Records |
2017 | What Goes Up | Chicago Afrobeat Project | Chicago Afrobeat Project |
2017 | Mandela Effect | Gonjasufi | Warp |
2018 | Merrie Land | The Good, the Bad & the Queen | Studio 13 |
2020 | Rejoice | Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela | World Circuit Records |