Vieux diop biography of albert

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And he did." The pair did eventually reconcile, and these days, Diop, now in his 40s, makes a living from his instrument. Vieux owes his musical heritage not only to his mother, who was always singing the melodies and rhythms of Senegal, their West African homeland, but to his love of American music. Along with his understanding of
intricate musical patterns, Vieux has a talent for creating and singing beautiful and poetic lyrics.

His goal, he says, is to �spread African music in general and Senegalese music in particular for love and enjoyment.

Vieux plays kora (a �bass' kora), the jembe and samba drums, and other indigenous instruments. "My music has people from many different backgrounds, all putting their sound in, and it becomes one. Cash Box observed that Diop "...serves up bobbing, weaving, grooves that are undeniable to the human pulse." In addition to creating heartfelt melodies on the kora, Diop plays the dissunguni (bass kora) and djembe, and sings in a mixture of traditional African languages (Wolof, Mandigo and Bambara), French and English.

I wanted to come over, see the U.S., and try my luck."

Meeting some other Senegalese, he began playing his kora with them, and made ends meet by teaching language classes. Guests like Celtic fiddler Eileen Ivers add their own flavor to the stew.

"Since I've lived in the U.S. for so long, I wanted to do something different," he explained.

This is a melting pot, everybody has something to offer." And on pieces like "Sing Lo-Lo," where kalimba mixes with synthesizers, guitar, and even turntables, he seems to have captured the mix of America on disc. Music helps us understand one another better and accept each other as human beings.�

When Diop,  arrived in New York in 1983, he discovered that "African music and culture was really not known.

Diop, whose real name is Alioune (Vieux, meaning old, is a nickname from his grandfather), and N'Dour had started out playing and recording together in Dakar's Star Band when they were teenagers, with Diop behind his first instrument, a drum kit. It's going to be sharing my culture and traditions." But the last 17 years in have brought him to the point where "whatever I'm doing in life, I'm doing sincerely.

"My music has people from many different backgrounds, all putting their sound in, and it becomes one. “John Lee Hooker was my guy, and James Brown, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett.”

His first instrument, at age 11, was a set of trap drums, which he played on Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour’s first hit recording in the 1970s.

Guests like Celtic fiddler Eileen Ivers add their own flavor to the stew.

"Since I've lived in the U.S. for so long, I wanted to do something different," he explained.

In music you always have to be honest with yourself."