Fela Drummer And Afrobeat's Co-Founder, Tony Allen Passes On.

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Legendary drummer and Co-Founder of Afrobeat, Tony Allen,, died of a heart attack in Paris on Thursday. He was aged 79 at time of death .

Allen was the drummer and musical director of musician Fela Kuti's famous band Africa '70 in the 1960-70s. Late Fela declared in one of his interviews that without Tony Allen there would be no afrobeat

Allen's career and life story were documented in his 2013 autobiography Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat,

Afrobeat combines elements of West Africa's fuji music and highlife styles with American funk and jazz.

Allen, who was born in Lagos in 1940, taught himself how to play drums when he was 18.

He said he learnt his technique by listening to American jazz drummers Art Blakey and Max Roach.

Allen first met Fela in 1964, and they went on to record dozens of albums in Africa '70, including Gentleman and Zombie.

Allen left the band in 1979, after reported rifts with the band leader over royalties. Fela needed four separate drummers to fill the void.

Allen emigrated to London in 1984, and later moved to Paris.

Source: BBC