Ali Farka Toure

In 2004 Ali Farka Toure became mayor of Niafunke. The singer expresses his (vain, in hindsight) hope to be able to look forward again to the annual Presidents' Day in February. Toure is noted as the mentor to popular Malian musician Afel Bocoum. On Wainwright's homepage, the song Presidents' Day (http://lwiii.com/LWPresidentsDay_s192.mp3), created in early 2004, is available for free download. He reappeared in 1999 with Niafunke, a more traditional album focusing on African rhythms and beats. (Rufus was the subject of another of Loudon's more famous songs, the breastfeeding ode "Rufus is a Tit Man", and Martha has been greeted with the gentle song "Five Years Old" on her fifth birthday.). Toure usually sings in one of several African languages, as on his breakthrough album, Ali Farka Toure, which established his reputation in the world music community. 1994's Talking Timbuktu, a collaboration with Ry Cooder, sold promisingly well in western markets, but was followed by a hiatus from releases in America and Europe. Wainwright's son Rufus Wainwright and daughter Martha Wainwright, through his onetime marriage to Canadian singer/songwriter Kate McGarrigle, are both singer/songwriters as well.

As the first African bluesman to achieve widespread popularity on his home continent, Toure is often known as "the African John Lee Hooker". His father, Loudon Wainwright II, was a well-known writer for Life magazine. Ali Farka Toure (born 1939 in Niafunke, Mali) is an African blues singer and guitarist, known throughout the continent as one its most famous performers. He was one of many young folksingers tagged as the "new Dylan" in the early 1970s. Wainwright has claimed that, like many of his contemporaries, he was inspired musically by seeing Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival in 1962. Using a witty, self-mocking style and unusual, high-pitched voice, Wainwright has made a number of albums, two of which were nominated for Grammy awards.

He is best known to the general public for a 1972 novelty song hit "Dead Skunk (in the Middle of the Road)", and for playing "the Singing Surgeon" on three episodes of the American television show M*A*S*H in 1975, but his musical reputation is much deeper. Loudon Wainwright III (born September 5, 1946 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina) is an American songwriter, folksinger, and humorist. Loudon Wainwright III on VH1 (http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/wainwright_loudon_iii/artist.jhtml). Short autobiography (http://lwiii.com/lwbiogr1.html).

So Damn Happy (2003). Last Man on Earth (2001). Social Studies (1999). BBC Sessions (1998).

Little Ship (1997). Grown Man (1995). One Man Guy: The Best of Loudon Wainwright III 1982-1986 (1994). Career Moves (1993).

History (1992). Fame and Wealth / I'm Alright (1991). Therapy (1989). More Love Songs (1986).

I'm Alright (1985). Fame and Wealth (1983). A Live One (1979). Final Exam (1978).

T Shirt (1976). Unrequited (1975). Attempted Mustache (1973). Album III (1972).

Album II (1971). Loudon Wainwright III (1970).