The legendary and Grammy-nominated Malian musician Amadou Bagayoko passed away at the age of 70. As member of the blind duo Amadou & Mariam, he gained international recognition by fusing traditional West African sounds with Western rock and pop influences.
Amadou & Mariam @ RDTSE 2005 – Author: Jérôme from Rouen, FRANCE
Bagayoko began playing music at a young age and was born in Bamako in 1954. In the 1970s, he met Mariam Doumbia, his wife and musical companion, in the Institute for Young Blind People in Bamako.
“Learned with concern of the passing of artist Amadou Bagayoko this Friday,” the ministry of culture stated in a statement that was shown on state television. “Amadou was a blind man who made his mark on the Malian and international scene.”
They gained international recognition with their 2004 album “Dimanche a Bamako” (Sunday in Bamako), and their 2008 CD “Welcome To Mali” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album.
The pair played before large crowds at some of the largest music festivals in the world and at the Nobel Peace Prize concert, when U.S. President Barack Obama received the award.
The official song for the 2006 World Cup of soccer was also written by Amadou and Mariam.
Online, artists from around the world expressed their sorrow.
