Today is Fête de la Musique, or for those that speak the Queen's English, World Music Day. According to various sources, World Music Day was first conceptualized in France in 1976 by an American, Joel Cohen, who proposed an all-night music celebration to mark the beginning of the summer solstice. It makes me proud to know that there is a day set aside to celebrate the vast and diverse musical traditions that span this big blue marble that we all share.
My first (and still favorite) job out of school was an internship working with the amazing World Music Institute here in New York. They do the thankless job of spreading the awareness of Non-Beiber, Non-Kanye music to those who come from other places and miss their tones of home, or those that are just curious about how the rest of the planet rocks out. It was an unpaid internship, but what I lacked in funds, I received tenfold in music education. The music I got back then has stayed so close to my heart (and ears) to this very day. Here are some of the highlights to help you celebrate World Music Day. Any recommendations? Leave them in the comments or email me @ everydayanothersong@gmail.com.
From Belize
Andy Palacio - Weyu Larigi Weyu
From Pakistan
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan gives An Amazing Live Qawwali Performance
From Zaire & The Congo
Lita Bembo & Stukas Boys - Mombombo Dominé