Internationally known Senegalese born singer and percussionist, Youssou N'Dour, will be appearing live in Philadelphia, PA Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 8:00 PM at the world famous Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad and Spruce Street.

Youssou N'Dour, described by Rolling Stone magazine as the “most famous singer alive”, is sure to dazzle all in attendance with a blend of African, French, English and Wollof rhythmic traditional sounds; expressed through his silky smooth serenading voice; along with his mesmerizing stage presence.

This event is being organized by the African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) in partnership with The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Youssou N' Dour, who was born in Senegal, West Africa has been a legendary performer for many years on the World stage and has been described as the Frank Sinatra of Africa. He is one of Africa's favorite sons and Senegal's, superstar.

He helped develop popular music in Senegal, known in the Wolof language as mbalax, a blend of the country's traditional griot percussion and praise-singing with the Afro-Cuban arrangements and flavors which made the return trip from the Caribbean to West Africa in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s and have flourished in West Africa ever since.

The griots - musicians, praise-singers and storyteller-historians—comprise a distinct hereditary caste in Wolof society and throughout West Africa.) As it emerged from this period of fruitful musical turbulence, mbalax would eventually find in Youssou N'Dour the performer who has arguably had more to do with its shaping than any other individual.

N’Dour began performing at the age of 12. Within a couple of years he was performing regularly with the Star Band, Dakar's most popular group in the early 1970s. Several members of the Star Band joined Orchestre Baobab about that time.

Although N’Dour has connections to the traditional griot caste on his mother’s side, he wasn’t raised in that tradition, learning it instead from his siblings. His parents encouraged him to look at things in a more modern manner, leaving him open to two cultures, with the result that he refers to himself as a modern griot.

In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Etoile de Dakar. His early work with Etoile de Dakar was in the typical Latin style popular all over Africa during that time, but in the 1980s he developed a unique sound when he started his current group, Super Etoile de Dakar featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam.

Youssou N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. A renowned singer, songwriter, and composer, Youssou's mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban samba to hip hop, jazz, and soul has won him an international fan base of millions.

In the West, Youssou has collaborated with musicians Peter Gabriel, Axelle Red, Sting, Alan Stivell, Bran Van 3000, Neneh Cherry, Wyclef Jean, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Branford Marsalis, Ryuichi Sakamoto and others. In Senegal, Youssou is a powerful cultural icon actively involved in social issues.

He is endowed with remarkable range and poise, a composer, bandleader, and producer with a prodigious musical intelligence. The New York Times most recently described his voice as an "arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority". N'Dour absorbs the entire Senegalese musical spectrum in his work, often filtering this through the lens of genre-defying rock or pop music from outside Senegalese culture.

In July 1993, an African opera composed by N'Dour premiered at the Opéra Bastille. He wrote and performed the official anthem of the 1998 FIFA World Cup with Axelle Red "La Cour des Grands".

N'Dour's major asset is strongly grounded in his culture. Even if he chooses to explore elsewhere, his roots are well established. Some have gone so far as describing him as the African Artist of the Century (Folk Roots magazine). He has toured internationally for almost 30 years. He won his first American Grammy Award (best contemporary world music album) for his CD Egypt in 2005.

In recent years, he has opened his own recording studio, Xippi, as well as his own record label, Jololi. He has also associated himself with several social and political issues. In 1985, he organized a concert for the release of Nelson Mandela. He was a featured performer in the 1988 worldwide Amnesty International Human Rights Now Tour, in which he collaborated with Lou Reed to contribute a version of the Peter Gabriel song Biko, which was produced by Richard James Burgess and featured on the Amnesty International benefit album The Secret Policeman's Third Ball.

He has also worked with the United Nations and UNICEF and he started Project Joko to open internet cafés in Africa and to connect Senegalese communities around the world. He performed at three of the Live 8 concerts (in Live 8 concert, London, Live 8 concert, Paris and at the Live 8 concert, Eden Project in Cornwall) on 2 July, 2005, with Dido.

According to David Barnes, one of the organizers of the event, “This is one of a kind, not to be missed show. This collaboration between the Kimmel Center and ACANA is an effort to bring first class African entertainment to the city of Philadelphia for all to enjoy; young, old, black and white; there is no reason to be left out of this wonderful musical experience.”

He said tickets are being sold for $50 tickets. However, tickets are being discounted at $29.50 when purchased at (ACANA).

For more information contact ACANA at (215) 729-8225 EX 110 or Call the Kimmel Center box office. (215) 893-1999

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