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Alpha Blondy
(Côte d'Ivoire)
Biography
Alpha Blondy is one of the most successful reggae stars and
one of the most prominent African musicians at the same time. Already at young age, he
was making music, and he has been a follower of the Rastafari belief. Musically, he has been
strongly influenced by Bob Marley. But when returning from a stay of two years in the United
States, his parents had put him in a mental hospital because of his strong Rastafari beliefs.
In the early 1980s he was able to record a single « Brigadier Sabari », which is a popular song until today, followed by the album « Jah Glory ». Soon, a record deal with EMI-Pathé-Marconi enabled him to record and tour throughout two decades. He sings mainly in Dioula, French, English, about injustice, political issues, and religion. He strongly advocates reconciliation between the world religions.
Through the popularity of reggae in the whole of Africa, where Bob Marley is still highly respected, Alpha Blondy has a super star status. In Côte d'Ivoire, reggae is still one of the main music styles made in the country. Other artists in this genre are Ismael Isaac, Les Frères Keita, Waby Spider and Tiken Jah Fakoly.
Born: 1 January 1953, as Seydou Koné, in Dimbokoro
Style: reggae
In the early 1980s he was able to record a single « Brigadier Sabari », which is a popular song until today, followed by the album « Jah Glory ». Soon, a record deal with EMI-Pathé-Marconi enabled him to record and tour throughout two decades. He sings mainly in Dioula, French, English, about injustice, political issues, and religion. He strongly advocates reconciliation between the world religions.
Through the popularity of reggae in the whole of Africa, where Bob Marley is still highly respected, Alpha Blondy has a super star status. In Côte d'Ivoire, reggae is still one of the main music styles made in the country. Other artists in this genre are Ismael Isaac, Les Frères Keita, Waby Spider and Tiken Jah Fakoly.
Born: 1 January 1953, as Seydou Koné, in Dimbokoro
Style: reggae
Alpha Blondy
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Eternity | 2022 | AlphAlliance | |
| Human Race | 2018 | AlphAlliance / Wagram Music | |
| Positive Energy | 2015 | Wagram Music | |
| Best of Alpha Blondy | 2013 | AlphAlliance / Wagram Music | 2CD |
| Mystic Power | 2013 | Wagram Music | |
| Live at Paris Zenith 1992 & Paris Bercy 2000 | 2012 | Wagram Music | 3CD Limited edition |
| Vision | 2011 | Wagram Music | CD / Bonus Edition : 2CD |
| Jah Victory | 2007 | Jober Entertainment/IODA | |
| Akwaba - The Very Best Of | 2005 | Virgin | |
| Radical Roots From The Emperor Of African Reggae | 2004 | Manteca MANTCD050 | Compilation album |
| Merci | 2002 | EMI 538 341-2 | |
| The Best of... / Black Samurai | 2002 | EMI 537 754-2 | |
| L'Essentiel Alpha Blondy | 2002 | EMI 537 165-2 | |
| Paris Bercy (Live) | 2000 | EMI 532 411-2 | |
| Elohim | 2000 | Une Music U 1027-2 | Also on Alpha Blondy ABCD 99083 (2001) |
| The Best of Alpha Blondy | 1999 | Shanachie SHCD43075 | |
| Yitzhak Rabin | 1998 | Tuff Gong 54282-2 | Also on Stern's STCD 1087 (1998) |
| Grand Bassam Zion Rock | 1996 | EMI 852 470-2 | |
| The Best of Alpha Blondy | 1996 | EMI 837 041-2 | |
| Dieu | 1994 | EMI 829 847-2 | |
| Live au Zénith | 1993 | EMI 789 470-2 | |
| S.O.S. guerre tribale | 1993 | EMI 789 019-2 | |
| Masada | 1992 | EMI 798 620-2 | |
| The Prophets | 1989 | Pathé-Marconi 791 793-1 | |
| Revolution | 1987 | Pathé-Marconi 748 655-1 | |
| Jerusalem | 1986 | Pathé-Marconi | Also on Stern's STCD 1019 (1987) |
| Apartheid is nazism | 1985 | Pathé-Marconi | Also on Stern's STCD 1017 (1986) |
| Cocody Rock | 1984 | Pathé-Marconi 240 233-1 | |
| Rasta Poué | 1984 | Syllart 38726-1 | |
| Jah Glory | 1983 | Syllart 38710-1 |
Sources
Page added November 2002