|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
One of the all-time great drummers and teachers recently made his transition. Babatunde Olatunji died a day before his 76th birthday. Olatunji was the renowned Nigerian master drummer who pioneered world music long before there was a genre with that name. He was the first artist to bring African rhythms to western music, especially jazz and rock ‘n’ roll. His groundbreaking album, Drums of Passion, was released in l960. Considered the first world music recording marketed in the U.S., it has sold more than 5 million copies. For over 40 years, Olatunji served as an unofficial ambassador of African music and culture. He was the first to promote “drum circles” and the healing power of drumming. Olatunji was an early proponent of the mind-body-spirit connection in sound therapy. For him, and now many others, drumming was a way to physical, spiritual and emotional health. In his own words, “Rhythm is the soul of life. The whole universe revolves around rhythm. Everything and every human action revolves in rhythm.” He taught many workshops, most recently through Omega Institute and Esalen Institute. In addition to teaching traditional drumming, dancing and chanting, Olatunji also imparted his uplifting philosophy. Many people don’t know it, but one of Santana’s first breakout hits, Jingo, was actually written by Olatunji. Mickey Hart is perhaps the best-known among many drummers who were influenced and inspired by him. I had the honor and privilege of meeting him on several occasions, as well as joining him on stage during several concerts. In fact, it was during one of these magic moments that I also connected with his lead drummer, Suru Ekeh. After the conclusion of that tour, Suru moved to my area in 1987. Shortly thereafter, we began a series of recording sessions that became the repository of his finest multi-tracked compositions. Suru died unexpectedly after returning from a visit to his homeland in 1994, but his presence was very definitively felt as we completed the album. (If you’ve never heard any of the music from Afro-Desia, I invite you to check out several samples at my site, www.stevenhalpern.com). In the Tradition of Whole Life Expos I had the pleasure of speaking at both the New Life Expo in South Florida and the New Living Expo in San Francisco this past month. The interest in the healing powers of sound was higher than ever, judging by the enthusiasm and openness of those who attended my talks and workshops. These events allow me to meet many new people, and it’s especially gratifying to meet someone who comes up and tells me how great a contribution my music has made to their life. (For me, that’s the moral equivalent of having a Gold Record, although Billboard will never have a category acknowledging it.) I was also honored to be presented with the new book by Sharon Heller: Too Loud Too Bright Too Fast Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World. Sharon was influenced and inspired by my chapters on being highly sensitive to sound. Her book is a timely exploration of a widespread but often undiagnosed condition: over-sensitivity to sensations from our environment; sound, sight, smells, touch and taste. If you’ve ever wondered why other people weren’t as annoyed as you are by standard office equipment, leaf blowers or your neighbor’s music seeping through the walls, this book is for you. It is an affirmation that you are not alone ... and that there are many practical strategies to help you cope. Look for the book in your locals stores or check amazon.com. I’ll have more to say on this subject in coming installments. Until then, Yours for Inner Peace, Steven Halpern Steven Halpern is one of the world's leading composers of music for healing, wellness, and inner peace. His latest recordings include PERFECT ALIGNMENT, featuring Grammy award winner Paul McCandless, and INNER PEACE II, with Madeleine Singer. Look for them at Borders, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, your neighborhood independent retailer, or online at www.innerpeacemusic.com. For a free catalogue call 1-800-909-0707 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
All content and articles copyright ©2002 by Lightworks Inc except where noted. All rights reserved.