Babatunde Olatunji

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Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist and recording artist. Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, a small town near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nigeria. A member of the Yoruba people, Olatunji was introduced to traditional African music at an early age. He read in Reader’s Digest magazine about the Rotary International Foundation’s scholarship program, and applied for it. He came to the United States of America in 1950. Olatunji won a following among jazz musicians, notably creating a strong relationship with John Coltrane and Columbia Records A&R man John Hammond who signed him to the Columbia label in 1957. With Coltrane’s help, he founded the Olatunji Center for African Culture in Harlem. This was the site of Coltrane’s final performance.

In 1959 Olatunji released his first of six records on the Columbia label, called Drums of Passion. In 1969, Carlos Santana had a major hit with his cover version of this first album’s “Jin-go-lo-ba,” which Santana recorded on his debut album, Santana, as “Jingo.” Olatunji favoured a big percussion sound, and his records typically featured more than 20 players, unusual for a percussion based ensemble. Drums of Passion became a major hit and remains in print; it introduced many Americans to world music. Drums of Passion also served as the band’s name. Notable band members included; Clark Terry, Bill Lee, Horace Silver, Yusef Lateef, Sikiru Adepoju and Charles Lloyd, among others.

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african, percussion, world, nigeria, drums
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Top Tracks

1	Takuta full track	46
2	Akiwowo (Chant to the Trainman)	24
3	Masai full track	23
4	Soul Makossa full track	19
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4	Wake Me When I'm Free full track	19
7	Jin-Go-Lo-Ba	17
7	Dominira full track	17
9	Kiyakiya (Why Do You Run Away?)	16
10	Oyin Momo Ado (Sweet as Honey)	15
10	Shango (Chant to the God of Thunder)	15
10	O-Wa full track	15
13	Odun De! Odun De! (Happy New Year)	14
13	Jin-Go-Lo-Ba (Drums of Passion)	14
15	Oya (Primitive Fire)	11

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chellfreak wrote:
last month

what a beauty :)

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phogasmic wrote:
August 2009

amazing. Reminds me of great house music.

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araujof wrote:
August 2009

great tracks

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D-A-N- wrote:
July 2009

drums of passion is so good.

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jonorehea wrote:
February 2009

love.

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oklurk wrote:
November 2008

Listen to the "Gainsbourg Percussions" album, you'll realise where Serge Gainsbourg got his inspiration from !

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Waqcku wrote:
August 2008

wonderful drumming!

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samshipstone wrote:
June 2008

Amazing drumming. Richness and variation in mood, all from drums. The only good thing Reader's Digest has ever done.

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concretica wrote:
February 2008

!!! 0||0 !!!

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