Ali Farka Touré was a celebrated Malian singer and multi-instrumentalist born in 1939 and passed away in 2006. Known for blending traditional Malian music with African American blues, he helped pioneer the style known as African desert blues. Touré's innovative guitar work earned him international acclaim, including spots on Rolling Stone and Spin magazine's lists of the greatest guitarists of all time. In the years following his death, his musical legacy continued with groups like the Ali Farka Touré Allstars and the Ali Farka Touré Band performing in his distinctive style.