Ali Farka Touré

Born in Gourmararusse, Timbuktu, Mali on October 31, 1939 — died March 6, 2006 (aged 66)

Ali Ibrahim "Ali Farka" Touré was a Malian singer and multi-instrumentalist, and one of the African continent's most internationally renowned musicians. His music blends traditional Malian music and its derivative, North American blues and is considered a pioneer of African desert blues.