http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.41755&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rssAt first glance, Issa Bagayogo has the typical rags-to-riches story: young son of a farming family in Mali begins to play music, moves to the city, and hits the big time. The reality is somewhat messier than that. It took Bagayogo several cassettes and a change in producers before his sound took off, and in the meantime he moved back home once or twice, watched his marriage fall apart, and suffered bouts of depression and addiction. A mix of luck and perseverance led to a third opportunity to record, however -- this time with French producer Yves Wernert. Wernert encouraged a reluctant Bagayogo to mix his traditional <i>ngoni</i> (six-stringed lute) playing with modern electronics. Bagayogo's reluctance must have evaporated when 1998's <i>Sya</i> became a national best seller and earned him the award of Mali's "Brightest New Hope" a year later. 2002's <i>Timbuktu</I> fared even better, gaining a world audience captivated by Bagayogo's spare, bluesy <i>ngoni</i> playing, velvety voice, and hybrid instrumentation. - Sarah BardeenMalien720Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:45:03 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.41755&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss At first glance, Issa Bagayogo has the typical rags-to-riches story: young son of a farming family in Mali begins to play music, moves to the city, and hits the big time. The reality is somewhat messier than that. It took Bagayogo several cassettes and a change in producers before his sound took off, and in the meantime he moved back home once or twice, watched his marriage fall apart, and suffered bouts of depression and addiction. A mix of luck and perseverance led to a third opportunity to record, however -- this time with French producer Yves Wernert. Wernert encouraged a reluctant Bagayogo to mix his traditional <i>ngoni</i> (six-stringed lute) playing with modern electronics. Bagayogo's reluctance must have evaporated when 1998's <i>Sya</i> became a national best seller and earned him the award of Mali's "Brightest New Hope" a year later. 2002's <i>Timbuktu</I> fared even better, gaining a world audience captivated by Bagayogo's spare, bluesy <i>ngoni</i> playing, velvety voice, and hybrid instrumentation. - Sarah Bardeen http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.28715661&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss Mali Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Issa Bagayogo Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.28715661 alb.28715661 Issa Bagayogo art.41755 9.99 Issa Remixed alb.28715661 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/5/1/5/1705159_170x170.jpg 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.28715661&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.28715661&variant=data&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.22115946&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss Mali Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Issa Bagayogo Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.22115946 alb.22115946 Issa Bagayogo art.41755 9.99 Mali Koura alb.22115946 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/5/8/6/1366857_170x170.jpg 2008-08-05 00:00:00.0 2008-08-05 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.22115946&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.22115946&variant=data&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.14708246&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss Mali Tue, 8 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Issa Bagayogo Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.14708246 alb.14708246 Issa Bagayogo art.41755 1.99 Tassoumakan Remixes alb.14708246 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/9/1/1671973_170x170.jpg 2007-05-08 00:00:00.0 2007-05-08 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.14708246&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.14708246&variant=data&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6223503&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss Mali Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Issa Bagayogo Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.6223503 alb.6223503 Issa Bagayogo art.41755 9.99 Tassoumakan alb.6223503 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/3/9/1/1671939_170x170.jpg 2007-04-10 00:00:00.0 2004-08-03 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6223503&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.6223503&variant=data&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.148355&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss Mali Tue, 3 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Issa Bagayogo Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.148355 alb.148355 Issa Bagayogo art.41755 9.99 Timbuktu alb.148355 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/1/8/1/1631815_170x170.jpg 2007-04-03 00:00:00.0 2002-02-05 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.148355&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.148355&variant=data&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.120546&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss Mali Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Issa Bagayogo Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.120546 alb.120546 Issa Bagayogo art.41755 7.99 Sya alb.120546 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/6/5/3/1613567_170x170.jpg 2007-05-22 00:00:00.0 1999-01-01 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.120546&variant=play&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.120546&variant=data&rws=%2Fissa-bagayogo%2Fdiscography.rss