The 'golden voice of Africa' (fRoots), Salif Keita has been at the forefront of modern Malian music for many years. Keita has extended musical frontiers and carved out a distinctive musical voice, in which rock, funk and jazz combine with the deepest West African griot traditions.

“The best thing about him was his voice. A grainy and searing tenor, its power continues to drop jaws, and cause goosebumps” – 4 Stars, Evening Standard

Salif Keita was born on August 25, 1949 in Djoliba, Mali. Salif Keita is a direct descendant of Sunjata Keita, who founded the Malian Empire in 1240, however, because he was born with albinism, a sign of extreme bad luck in Mandinka culture, he was ostracized by his family and left home as a teenager. He soon joined up with the Super Rail Band de Bamako, a government-sponsored Afro-pop orchestra, and garnered national acclaim. His choice to become a musician was taboo, as members of the royal caste are forbidden from becoming musicians, a profession generally reserved for the lower jeli (griot) caste.

http://www.salifkeita.net/en/