Legendary drummer Babatunde Olatunji passed away Sunday at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. Olatunjis 1959 album, Drums of Passion was a top 10 hit in the United States, long before world music became a popular genre. Many fellow musicians were hugely influenced by the record, including John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie and a young Mickey Hart, who decades later told Olatunji that he was the reason he became a drummer. Babatunde was first invited to open for the Grateful Dead in November of 1985 and joined the group on stage on numerous occasions. Hart and Olatunji would work together often in the coming years, most notable with Planet Drum in the 1990s as well as on Harts Mystery Box album. Olatunjis resume also includes collaborations with Carlos Santana and Stevie Wonder.
News
Archive- Waxahatchee Welcomes Lucinda Williams, Wynonna and MJ Lenderman at Ryman Auditorium
- Vampire Weekend to Return as Musical Guests on ‘SNL’
- Jam Cruise Outlines 2025 Excursion: STS9, Snarky Puppy, Thievery Corporation and 40+ Others
- Mickey Hart Frames ‘Art at The Edge of Magic’ Exhibit
- High Sierra Music Festival Forecasts “Significant Changes” for 2025, Calls on Community for Support
- Ra Ra Riot Drop First New Single in Five Years, Share Tour Dates with Vampire Weekend
- David Gilmour Plots First Tour Since 2016
- Live Nation Announces Return of Concert Week: $25 Tickets to Outlaw Music Festival, Vampire Weekend, The Marley Brothers and More
Most Popular
- Dead & Company Detail Free Immersive Dead Forever Experience at The Venetian
- Trey Anastasio Talks New Vermont Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program
- Watch: Dave Matthews Band Take Royal Albert Hall, with Robben Ford Sit-in and “Dreamgirl” Bust-out
- Listen: Widespread Panic Bestow Wisdom on New Single “Life as a Tree”
- Watch: Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Bill Frisell Pay Tribute to Leonard Cohen with National Symphony Orchestra
- Phish Gift Drew Carey Signed Blender, Following Sphere Comments
- Jaimoe Takes Part in Rare Public Concert Appearance, Revisits Allman Brothers Band Classics
- David Gilmour Plots First Tour Since 2016
No Comments comments associated with this post