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Boubacar Traoré 'Kar Kar'
(Mali)
Biography
Boubacar Traoré was a celebrity in Mali already in
the 1960s, when he played for the Malian radio his hits like « Mali Twist »
and « Kayeba ».
Since he only played his music for the radio, he could not make a living from his music, and for 15 years he disappeared from
the music scene, working as a tradesman and as a tailor. In 1987, he resurfaced with his music at the national television.
After the death of his beloved wife Pierrette, he left for France, to work and forget.
He continued to play occasionally and after a record producer found out about his former successes, Boubacar was asked to record two albums that were licensed to Stern's Records. His music is characterised by his melancholic voice and bluesy guitar playing, based on circular Khassonke rhythms.
His music was increasingly loved and he recorded new albums, for instance with Habib Koité's band on the album « Maciré » (1999).
The Belgian novelist Lieve Joris wrote about Boubacar's life in « Mali Blues » in 1996, the movie « Je chanterai pour toi » by Jacques Sarasin was based on this novel. A CD accompanying the movie revisits the music of Boubacar, with the help of Ali Farka Touré, Rokia Traoré, Sidiki Camara (calabash), Adama Coulibaly (percussion), Mamah Diabaté (ngoni), Andra Kouyaté (ngoni), Adama Diarra (balafon), Kélétigui Diabaté, Ballaké Sissoko (kora) and Madieye Niang (calabash).
In 2005 he records « Kongo Magni » with a variety of guest musicians such as Vincent Bucher (harmonica) and Régis Gizavo (accordion), followed by « Mali Denhou » in 2011, with Vincent Bucher (harmonica) and Madieye Niang (calabash).
He continued to play occasionally and after a record producer found out about his former successes, Boubacar was asked to record two albums that were licensed to Stern's Records. His music is characterised by his melancholic voice and bluesy guitar playing, based on circular Khassonke rhythms.
His music was increasingly loved and he recorded new albums, for instance with Habib Koité's band on the album « Maciré » (1999).
The Belgian novelist Lieve Joris wrote about Boubacar's life in « Mali Blues » in 1996, the movie « Je chanterai pour toi » by Jacques Sarasin was based on this novel. A CD accompanying the movie revisits the music of Boubacar, with the help of Ali Farka Touré, Rokia Traoré, Sidiki Camara (calabash), Adama Coulibaly (percussion), Mamah Diabaté (ngoni), Andra Kouyaté (ngoni), Adama Diarra (balafon), Kélétigui Diabaté, Ballaké Sissoko (kora) and Madieye Niang (calabash).
In 2005 he records « Kongo Magni » with a variety of guest musicians such as Vincent Bucher (harmonica) and Régis Gizavo (accordion), followed by « Mali Denhou » in 2011, with Vincent Bucher (harmonica) and Madieye Niang (calabash).
Boubacar Traoré 'Kar Kar'
Born: 1942, in Kayes
Style: Mali blues
Discography
Style: Mali blues
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Dounia Tabolo | 2017 | Lusafrica | |
| Mbalimaou | 2015 | Lusafrica | |
| Mali Denhou | 2011 | Lusafrica | |
| Classics Titles | 2006 | Cantos | Compilation |
| Kongo Magni | 2005 | Marabi Productions 46809-2 | |
| The Best of... (The Bluesman from Mali) | 2003 | Wrasse Records WRASS 082 | |
| Je chanterai pour toi | 2002 | Marabi Productions 46803-2 | OST of the movie, new recordings of old songs |
| Maciré | 1999 | Indigo LBLC 2564 | |
| Sécheresse | 199? | Sonoafrica CDS 7050 | Compilation of 'Mariama' and 'Kar Kar' |
| Sa Golo | 1996 | Indigo LBLC 2534 | With Baba Dramé on calebash |
| Les enfants de Pierrette | 199? | Mali K7 KAR001 | Cassette |
| Kar Kar | 1992 | Stern's STCD 1037 | |
| Mariama | 1990 | Stern's STCD 1032 | Recorded by Radio Mali in 1989 |
Sources
Page added February 1998