Profession: Singer
Biography: The most popular singer in Senegal, N'dour helped develop the Mbalax sound - popular dance music fusing traditional Senegalese songs with Latin rhythms.
He found a voice on the world stage through collaborations with Peter Gabriel on his song "In Your Eyes" and the soundtrack album "Passion". He has also worked with Sting, Neneh Cherry, Wyclef Jean, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Branford Marsalis, Dido, Lou Reed, and Bruce Cockburn, among others.
N'Dour is a major human rights activist, leading concert tours for Amnesty International, raising funds for feeding Darfur, working with UNICEF, and serving as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.
He won a Grammy Award for Contemporary World music in 2005, and has been the subject of two documentary films - "Return to Gorée" (2007), and " Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love" (2008).
Born: October 1, 1959
Birthplace: Dakar, Senegal, Mali Federation
Age: 64 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Star Sign: Libra
Historical Events
- 1988-06-11 Freedom Fest: Anti-apartheid benefit & Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert addresses his continued imprisonment; performers include Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, Dire Straits, Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman, Hugh Masekela & Miriam Makeba, Youssou N'Dour, Peter Gabriel, Al Green, Joan Armatrading; Jessye Norman, and The Eurythmics at Wembley Stadium, London; broadcast to 67 countries with estimated audience of 600 million
- 1988-09-02 Amnesty International's "Human Rights Now!" tour begins in Wembley Stadium, London; performers include: Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman, and Youssou N'Dour
- 1992-06-26 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Shakespear's Sister, and Youssou N'Dour headline; other performers include Lou Reed, Kirsty MacColl, Tom Jones, Joan Armatrading, Richard Thompson, Billy Bragg, Television, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
- 2005-07-02 Live 8 concert at Chateau de Versailles, Paris, France; performers include Andrea Bocelli, Dido, Sahakira, Youssou N'Dour, The Cure, and Zucchero
- 2005-07-02 Live 8 concert at the Eden Project, Cornwall, England; performers included Daara J, Thomas Mapfumo, Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo, and Coco Mbassi
Barbara Strozzi
Elton John
Jessie J
Lil Nas X
Linda Ronstadt
Rod Stewart