Bands & Artists A-Z
Discover and meet the great bands and musicians who create the vast array of sounds and rhythms that make up world music.
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Lee "Scratch" Perry was one of the most influential producers and musicians in the history of reggae and ska music. He produced albums by Bob Marley and the Wailers, among others, and is credited with essentially inventing the rhythms that became known as reggae and dub.
Lee "Scratch" Perry was one of the most influential producers and musicians in the history of reggae and ska music. He produced albums by Bob Marley and the Wailers, among others, and is credited with essentially inventing the rhythms that became known as reggae and dub.
Canray Fontenot
Canray Fontenot was one of Louisiana's greatest musicians of all time. He was a Creole fiddle player who played traditional Cajun and Creole folksongs, predating zydeco music. Canray Fontenot is, even posthumously, a major influence on the music of Cajun and Creole Louisiana.
Canray Fontenot was one of Louisiana's greatest musicians of all time. He was a Creole fiddle player who played traditional Cajun and Creole folksongs, predating zydeco music. Canray Fontenot is, even posthumously, a major influence on the music of Cajun and Creole Louisiana.
Thomas Mapfumo
Thomas Mapfumo, known as the Lion of Zimbabwe, is one of Africa's most beloved musical performers. He invented a genre of music called "chimurenga", which blended traditional shona music with Western rock and pop. Thomas Mapfumo's outspoken lyrics resulted in his political exile from Zimbabwe.
Thomas Mapfumo, known as the Lion of Zimbabwe, is one of Africa's most beloved musical performers. He invented a genre of music called "chimurenga", which blended traditional shona music with Western rock and pop. Thomas Mapfumo's outspoken lyrics resulted in his political exile from Zimbabwe.
Angelique Kidjo
Angelique Kidjo is a Benin-born singer whose amazing voice and remarkable stage presence have made her one of the most popular musicians in the world. Angelique Kidjo is also well-known for her work as a humanitarian, speaking out against the conflict in Darfur and the ravages of AIDS in Africa.
Angelique Kidjo is a Benin-born singer whose amazing voice and remarkable stage presence have made her one of the most popular musicians in the world. Angelique Kidjo is also well-known for her work as a humanitarian, speaking out against the conflict in Darfur and the ravages of AIDS in Africa.
Lucky Dube
Lucky Dube was a pioneer of reggae music in his native South Africa. Lucky Dube followed in the footsteps of Jamaican legends like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, with direct influences from his African roots.
Lucky Dube was a pioneer of reggae music in his native South Africa. Lucky Dube followed in the footsteps of Jamaican legends like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, with direct influences from his African roots.
Amadou & Mariam
Amadou & Mariam are one of the most remarkable bands in the world music scene today. They met at a school for the blind in Mali, fell in love and have been making music as a couple for over 25 years.
Amadou & Mariam are one of the most remarkable bands in the world music scene today. They met at a school for the blind in Mali, fell in love and have been making music as a couple for over 25 years.
Balkan Beat Box
Balkan Beat Box are currently one of the hottest world fusion bands around. They call their unique sound New Mediterraneo. Balkan Beat Box was founded by Ori Kaplan (formerly of Gogol Bordello) and Tamir Muskat.
Balkan Beat Box are currently one of the hottest world fusion bands around. They call their unique sound New Mediterraneo. Balkan Beat Box was founded by Ori Kaplan (formerly of Gogol Bordello) and Tamir Muskat.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley was undoubtedly the most influential Jamaican musician of all time. Bob Marley's popularity was widespread, and continues to be so, 25 years after his death. Bob Marley's real name was Robert Nesta Marley.
Bob Marley was undoubtedly the most influential Jamaican musician of all time. Bob Marley's popularity was widespread, and continues to be so, 25 years after his death. Bob Marley's real name was Robert Nesta Marley.
Cesaria Evora, Cape Verdean Singer
Cesaria Evora is a singer from the Cape Verde islands known for her soulful interpretation of morna songs.
Cesaria Evora is a singer from the Cape Verde islands known for her soulful interpretation of morna songs.
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was the godfather of gypsy jazz (or "manouche") music, a style which blended traditional Gypsy (Rom) music with American big band and swing music. Django Reinhardt is considered by many to be the best guitarist of all time, despite the fact that his left hand was badly mangled in a fire and he had use of only two fingers.
Django Reinhardt was the godfather of gypsy jazz (or "manouche") music, a style which blended traditional Gypsy (Rom) music with American big band and swing music. Django Reinhardt is considered by many to be the best guitarist of all time, despite the fact that his left hand was badly mangled in a fire and he had use of only two fingers.
Edith Piaf - The Little Sparrow
Edith Piaf is considered by many to be the greatest French singer of all time. Edith Piaf's tragic life is shrouded in mystery and legend.
Edith Piaf is considered by many to be the greatest French singer of all time. Edith Piaf's tragic life is shrouded in mystery and legend.
Enya
Enya is perhaps one of the best-known world musicians, gaining popularity with her Celtic family band, Clannad, in the 1980s, and later going on to great success as a solo artist. Enya is the best-selling artist from the Republic of Ireland.
Enya is perhaps one of the best-known world musicians, gaining popularity with her Celtic family band, Clannad, in the 1980s, and later going on to great success as a solo artist. Enya is the best-selling artist from the Republic of Ireland.
Fela Kuti - Afrobeat Pioneer
Fela Kuti was a pioneering world musician who played Afrobeat music, a blend of American jazz, funk and pop with West African Highlife Music. Fela Kuti was also a major political activist who became a hero of the Black Power movement. Fela Kuti died of AIDS in 1997.
Fela Kuti was a pioneering world musician who played Afrobeat music, a blend of American jazz, funk and pop with West African Highlife Music. Fela Kuti was also a major political activist who became a hero of the Black Power movement. Fela Kuti died of AIDS in 1997.
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole was a Hawaiian ukulele player who burst onto the international world music scene with his beautiful medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"/"What A Wonderful World". Israel Kamakawiwo'ole died in 1997 at age 38.
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole was a Hawaiian ukulele player who burst onto the international world music scene with his beautiful medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"/"What A Wonderful World". Israel Kamakawiwo'ole died in 1997 at age 38.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo Artist Profile
LadySmith Black Mambazo are one of the best-known world music groups today. Much of their fame stems from being featured on Paul Simon's "Graceland" album, as well as being featured at Nelson Mandela's Inauguration.
LadySmith Black Mambazo are one of the best-known world music groups today. Much of their fame stems from being featured on Paul Simon's "Graceland" album, as well as being featured at Nelson Mandela's Inauguration.
Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt is a popular musician who composes rich, multilayered Celtic-inspired New Age music. She is a multi-instrumentalist who plays keyboards, accordion, harp and more. Loreena McKennitt is also a gifted singer. Her albums "The Mask and the Mirror" and "Parallel Dreams" have become popular among fans of Celtic music and New Age music alike.
Loreena McKennitt is a popular musician who composes rich, multilayered Celtic-inspired New Age music. She is a multi-instrumentalist who plays keyboards, accordion, harp and more. Loreena McKennitt is also a gifted singer. Her albums "The Mask and the Mirror" and "Parallel Dreams" have become popular among fans of Celtic music and New Age music alike.
Los Pleneros de la 21
Los Pleneros de la 21 is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to keeping the traditional music of Puerto Rico alive among the Puerto Rican community in New York.
Los Pleneros de la 21 is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to keeping the traditional music of Puerto Rico alive among the Puerto Rican community in New York.
Mamadou Diabate
Mamadou Diabate is a Malian kora player, and a member of the Mandinka West African Jeli family. He generally plays traditional songs and tradition-based originals, but he has found ways to bring the kora to new audiences by occasionally performing with jazz and rock musicians as well.
Mamadou Diabate is a Malian kora player, and a member of the Mandinka West African Jeli family. He generally plays traditional songs and tradition-based originals, but he has found ways to bring the kora to new audiences by occasionally performing with jazz and rock musicians as well.
Manu Chao
Manu Chao is one of the world's hippest and most popular musicians. His experimentation with world music, combined with rock and electronica, has made the genre cool again.
Manu Chao is one of the world's hippest and most popular musicians. His experimentation with world music, combined with rock and electronica, has made the genre cool again.
Ska Cubano
Ska Cubano is a band whose members are spread around the globe and who play a combination of ska music, Cuban son and Colombian cumbia.
Ska Cubano is a band whose members are spread around the globe and who play a combination of ska music, Cuban son and Colombian cumbia.
Tinariwen - Tuareg Desert Blues Band
Tinariwen is the premier Tuareg musical group in the world. The band formed in Muammar al-Qaddafi's rebel camps in 1982, and have since switched from guns to guitars, bringing their music around the world.
Tinariwen is the premier Tuareg musical group in the world. The band formed in Muammar al-Qaddafi's rebel camps in 1982, and have since switched from guns to guitars, bringing their music around the world.