Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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DAOUDA

(b Tou Kone Daouda, Abidjan, Ivory Coast) Singer-composer, from Burkinabe family. Began as TV technician; amateur singer and guitarist overheard in studio, offered TV spot and record contract, first single "Les Gbakas D'Abidjan' '76 successful he turned to music full-time. A gifted lyricist, he introduced a new mixture of local rhythms, soukous and makossa; first two LPs Mon Coeur Balance and Vive La Musique '78-9 were followed by two more but breakthrough came '83 with reworked first album retitled Le Sentimental '83, with Souzy Kasseya, guitar; Alhadji Toure, bass; Jimmy and Fredo (one of the hottest horn sections in Africa) and arranger Jimmy Hyacinthe, a huge hit in Francophone world released on Stern in UK '85. La Femme de Mon Patron '85 was a makossa infl. LP with backing from Cameroonian sidemen.