SALMON ARM — One of the most prominent and influential figures in the late-20th century roots and blues music, Taj Mahal is the newest addition to the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival lineup.
Taj Mahal prefers to do outdoor performances, saying: “The music was designed for people to move, and it’s a bit difficult after a while to have people sitting like they’re watching television. That’s why I like to play outdoor festivals because people will just dance.”
Although Taj Mahal’s career began more than four decades ago with American blues, this two-time Grammy winning, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist has broadened his artistic scope to include music from virtually every corner of the world.
Taj Mahal is described as having “an extraordinary voice that ranges from gruff and gritty to smooth and sultry,” and has an insatiable interest in musical discovery. That passion and curiosity have led him around the world resulting in a perspective and sound that is truly his own.
Born Henry Saint Clair Fredericks in Harlem, N.Y., Taj Mahal was raised in a musical environment by a mother who was a member of a local gospel choir and a father who was a jazz arranger and piano player. He was encouraged to develop his musical interest and studied classical piano, clarinet, trombone and harmonica.
In 1964, he moved to California and formed his first band, The Rising Sons, with fellow blues musicians Ry Cooder and Jessie Lee Kincaid. One of the first interracial bands of the period, they landed a record deal with Columbia Records and released a single but never an album.
During this time, Mahal was also working with other musicians including Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Muddy Waters. He began his solo career, releasing the self-titled, Taj Mahal, in 1968, and two more albums in ‘69. During this time he and Cooder also worked with The Rolling Stones, whom Mahal has performed with at various times throughout his career.
Mahal recorded a total of 12 albums from the late-‘60s into the ‘70s. His releases began incorporating West Indian and Caribbean music, jazz and reggae and showed signs of the musical exploration that would be his hallmark over the years to come.
In the ‘70s, he carved out a unique musical niche with a string of adventurous recordings, including the Grammy-nominated soundtrack to the movie Sounder. He returned to a full recording and touring schedule in the 1990s, including such projects as the musical scores for the play Mule Bone and the movie Zebrahead (1992). Two more albums, plus the Grammy winning Señor Blues were all commercial and critical successes.
In 2000, Mahal released a second Grammy-winning album, Shoutin’ in Key, and later recorded Hula Blues, Hanapepe Dream in 2003.
The worldwide release of Maestro: Celebrating 40 Years in 2008 marked the 40th anniversary of Mahal’s rich and varied recording career by mixing original material, borrowed classics, and songs written by a cadre of highly talented guest artists, with performances by Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Angelique Kidjo, Los Lobos and others.
Taj Mahal joins a number of artists from around the world at the 19th annual Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, Aug. 19 to 21 at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. Early bird tickets are now on sale for $120 until May 27, and can be purchased online at www.rootsandblues, or by phone at (250) 833-4096.
