Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Tony Allen (musician)

Role / Field:

Pioneering Nigerian drummer, composer, and co-founder of the Afrobeat genre.

Born:

1940-07-20

Died:

2020-04-30

Century / Era:

1940s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Tony Oladipo Allen (20 July 1940 – 30 April 2020) was a Nigerian drummer, composer, and songwriter. Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti's band Africa '70 from 1968 to 1979, and was one of the founders of the Afrobeat genre. Fela once stated that "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat". He was described by Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived".

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Later in life, Allen collaborated with Damon Albarn on several projects, including the Good, the Bad & the Queen and Rocket Juice & the Moon, as well as on Yannis & the Yaw with Yannis Philippakis. Allen was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to James Alabi Allen, a motor mechanic from British Nigeria (now present day Nigeria) and Prudentia Mettle, from the Gold Coast (now present day Ghana). He began playing drums at the age of 18, while working as an engineer for a radio station. Allen was influenced by music his father listened to: Jùjú, a popular Yoruba music from the 1940s, but also American jazz, and the growing highlife scene in Nigeria and Ghana. Allen studied the recordings of jazz drummers including Art Blakey and Max Roach while developing his style, as well as Ghanaian...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abbas Kiarostami — Contemporary (Born in 1940) (1940): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• Al Pacino — Contemporary (Born in 1940) (1940): Intense American actor celebrated for his powerful stage and screen performances.
• Alan Kay — Contemporary (Born in 1940) (1940): Pioneer of GUI, Object-Oriented Programming, and modern computing paradigms.
• Alan Parker — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Albert Uderzo — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Pioneering French comic artist, co-creator of the iconic Astérix series.
• Alex Trebek — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Iconic game show host, best known for decades of Jeopardy! success.
• Alberto Santos-Dumont — Shared historical date (07-20 · Born) (1873): Brazilian pioneer of aviation, instrumental in developing both airships and fixed-wing aircraft.
• Albrecht von Graefe (ophthalmologist) — Shared historical date (07-20 · Died) (1870): Pioneering German ophthalmologist, instrumental in establishing modern eye care.
• A. E. Housman — Shared historical date (04-30 · Died) (1936): English classicist and poet, renowned for his scholarship and melancholic verse.
• Agnes Moorehead — Shared historical date (04-30 · Died) (1974): Iconic American actress celebrated for stage, film, and television roles.
• 1940 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1940
• July 20 (07-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 20
• 2020 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2020
• April 30 (04-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on April 30

Frequently Asked Questions about Tony Allen (musician)