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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBLONDY, Alpha(b Seydou Kone, '53, Dimbokoro, Ivory Coast) Singer-composer. Formed Afro-rock band Atomic Vibrations in high school; to Liberia to improve English, then to USA for two years, studying English and trade. Recorded reggae songs in Jamaica but no money to release them. Returned to Ivory Coast; parents put him in psychiatric hospital for two years; continued to sing and prepare English translations for Ivorian TV. Following own TV appearance '82 album Jah Glory released June '83, became massive hit: topped charts all over Africa; West Africa flooded with videos, tapes, T-shirts; some songs became standards copied by other bands. Single "Rasta Poue', LP Cocody Rock on Path‚ Marconi also hits '84; played to 60,000 in Paris; worked on a film of his life. Reggae with strong Rasta appeal in Dioula, French and English. Track "Apartheid is Naziism' on LP Apartheid '85. |