Mali's Super Bands
Groove with Rail Band and Super Biton, two bands that have made their mark on the Malian musical landscape
Buffet Hotel de la Gare (Bamako) Buffet Hotel de la Gare (Bamako) (1973) by Rail BandTimbuktu Renaissance
Two bands in particular have left an indelible mark on the Malian musical landscape. Rail Band, the brainchild of Tidiani Koné, and Super Biton, pioneers of the fusion of the traditional sounds and rhythms of Ségou and modern genres.
The Rail Band de Buffet Hôtel de la Gare was formed in 1969 by Tidiani Koné.
Salif Keita joined the band as lead singer in 1970 and in the same year an album was released under the name "Orchestre Rail-Band de Bamako" by Bärenreiter-Musicaphon.
The internationally renowned djéli, Mory Kanté joined the band in 1971 as guitarist/vocalist and Djelymadi Tounkara, a former member of the National Orchestra "A" of the Republic of Mali, also joined the band as a soloist.
In 1972, Salif Keita left the group for Les Ambassadeurs du Motel so Mory Kanté became the lead singer.
The albums released since 1973 have led to the group's name being changed to Orchestre Rail Band. In 1975, several titles are released: Diaba, Mouodilo, Mokodiolo, Wassamba, Laï soumalei, Soundiata, Balakononifing, Kaïra, Louseny, Mamadou Boutigui.
In 1976, Makan Ganessy retired as an artist and left the group. Mory Kanté became the main singer. In 1977, the group is now called "Super Rail Band, Orchestre du Buffet Hôtel de la Gare de Bamako"
Before Super Biton became a national orchestra, it was first a regional orchestra from Ségou region. They made itself known to the broader public during the annual Youth Weeks, where it won first prize four years in a row.
Created in 1976 from the fusion of the National "B" Orchestra of the Republic of Mali and Les Maravillas, the National Badéma Orchestra released its first album (Tira Makan in 1977). Khalil Traoré, its first conductor, played the keyboard. Amadou Ba Guindo then became conductor (trumpet).
