The Rhythm Foundation presents Amadou and Mariam

April 26th, 2006The Rhythm Foundation is bringing to the Artime Theater Amadou and Mariam, the blind couple from Mali who collaborated with Manu Chao to make the Number 1 CD of the year in Paris, France. Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia have been making music together since they first met and fell in love at the Institute for Young Blind People in Bamako, Mali’s capital, in the mid-1970s. They have been married and performing as a duo since 1980. While their music is based in a Malian-style blues, it has evolved to include a diversity of styles: French folk, Cuban son, reggae and hip-hop, among others. Their success has recently grown beyond Mali’s borders to other African countries and Europe. In 2003, renowned musician Manu Chao invited Amadou & Mariam to record with him, and the result is Dimanche à Bamako (Sunday in Bamako). The album, which was released in France earlier this year, has been a major breakthrough for the duo, reaching the top of the French album chart, earning a Gold certification, and winning a Les Victoires de la Musique award, the French equivalent of a GRAMMY. In the US, it is nominated for a 2006 Grammy this spring. Amadou and Mariam are visiting Miami on their way to perform at the Coachella Music Festival in California, one of the most important venues for new music the US. For more information, please call visit www.rhythmfoundation.com