The Resume

(October 31, 1939-March 7, 2006)
Born in Kanau, Mali
Birth name was Ali Ibrahim Toure
Blues/World Music singer/musician
Played guitar, djerkel guitar, ngoni lute, njarka violin, bamboo flute, percussion and accordion
Recorded the albums 'African Blues' (1990), 'The River' (1990), 'The Source' (with Taj Mahal, 1993), 'Talking Timbuktu' (with Ry Cooder, 1994), 'Niafunke' (1999), 'Mississippi to Mali' (with Corey Harris, 2002), 'In the Heart of the Moon' (with Ry Cooder and Toumani Diabate, 2005) and 'Savane' (2006)
Appeared in the Martin Scorsese documentary 'Feel Like Going Home' (2003)

Why he might be annoying:

His nickname Farka means 'donkey.'
He released three albums titled 'Ali Toure Farka' and three titled 'Ali Farka Toure.'
Although internationally known as a musician, he considered himself a farmer.
He became increasingly unwilling to leave his hometown, forcing his label to build a studio in an abandoned schoolhouse near his farm.

Why he might not be annoying:

He had nine brothers who died in infancy.
He said of his nickname, 'Let me make one thing clear: I'm the donkey that nobody climbs on.'
Martin Scorsese described his music as 'the DNA of the blues.'
As of 2009, his record 'Savane' was in the top five of Metacritic's list of the all-time best-reviewed albums.
He was elected mayor of Niafunke, Mali, and spent his own money on improving roads, installing sewers, and purchasing a generator to provide electricity.
He was given a state funeral by Mali.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Accordionists
• Blues Musicians
• Born on Halloween [October 31st] (Ranked: 1939)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 24]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [October] (Ranked: 10311939)
• HMV Poll of Poll's Top Albums [2006] (Ranked: 22)
• I Died in 2006 (Ranked: 66)
• I Have Bone Cancer
• I Sought Political Office
• Look at My Guitar
• Look at My Motorcycle
• Mayors
• Metacritic's 30 Best Reviewed Albums [2006] (Ranked: 1)
• Mojo's Top 50 Albums [2010] (Ranked: 49)
• Observer's 50 Best Albums of the Decade [2000's] (Ranked: 18)
• Profiles 27001-27250 (Ranked: 27215)
• Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists (Ranked: 76)
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 20060307)
• Wire's Top Albums [1999]

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 27 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 59.09% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 51 Votes: 62.75% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 12 Votes: 75.00% Annoying