Where to Start With Afrobeat Pioneer Tony Allen, One of the Greatest Drummers Ever
It’s difficult to exaggerate the scale of Tony Allen’s talent and influence. The Nigerian drummer joined Fela Kuti’s band when the soon-to-be-legendary performer was still impersonating James Brown. Allen introduced the iconic polyrhythms that would define Afrobeat music as much as Fela’s saxophone or outsized personality. He died suddenly from an aneurysm yesterday in Paris, leaving behind a legacy that spans decades, genres, and continents.