Rail Band | Artist

The Rail Band is a Malian band formed 1970 in Bamako by Salif Keita (vocals), Mory Kanté (vocals), Dielimady Tounkara (guitar), Kante Manfila (guitar), Diely Moussa (guitar) plus various other supporting instrumentalists. The band was later known as Super Rail Band, Bamako Rail Band or, by their full formal title, Super Rail Band of the Buffet Hotel de la Gare, Bamako. The first incarnation of the band was sponsored by the Ministry of Information and the railway administration. The Malian government had since the '60s been sponsoring cultural events and groups to promote national traditions. The band performed as the house band at the Buffet Bar of the Station Hotel in Bamako, from which it takes its name. Rail Band's fame was built upon the mid-20th century craze for Cuban and Latin jazz music which came out of Congo in the 1940s. The Rail Band was one of the first West African acts to combine this mature Afro-Latin sound with traditional instruments and styles, built upon the Mande Griot praise singer tradition, along with Bambara and other Malian and Guinean musical traditions. Their distinctive sound came from combining electric guitar and jazz horns with soaring Mandinka and Bamabara lyrical lines, African and western drums, and local instruments such as the kora and the balafon. At their height of fame in the 1970s, the Rail Band played to sold-out venues and even stadia across West Africa, and launched solo careers for many of its members, including Salif Keita. Lead singer Keita left the band to join the rival Super Ambassadeurs, and then follow a successful solo career in 1982. Standout album releases include Orchestre Rail-Band de Bamako (1971), Buffet Hotel de la Gare Bamako (1972), Soundiata (1975), Melodias (1976) and Wale numa lombaliya - Tie Diu Guya (1977).

Artist Website: wikipedia/Rail_Band

Featured Albums: Rail Band

Related Artists: Super Rail Band, Salif Keita, Mory Kante, Super Biton

Video Clips: Mansa, Feat. Salif Keita, Badialame