Markus James is originally from
Virginia and the DC area, where his first
musical memory, from the age of four, is of an
old, blind blues singer he saw many times
playing on a sidewalk. He first encountered West
African stringed music at the Smithsonian
Folklife Festival when he was mesmerized by the
Gambian Kora player and singer, Alhaji Bai Konte.
Markus settled in Northern California, writing
and recording in rock and R&B styles while also
pursuing his interests in African, Indian, and
Gamelan music. He travelled in West Africa and
also Haiti, studying traditional ensemble
drumming, before first visiting Mali in 1994,
when he made his way to the village of Niafounke
to meet the legendary “Malian Bluesman”, Ali
Farka Toure. It was then that Markus first
recorded original, Blues-based songs with
Wassoulou musician Solo Sidibe, which became the
"where you wanna be" album, released 6 years
later. He has produced several programs for
PRI's Afropop Worldwide, notably "Ali Farka
Toure: Live From Niafounke". Markus has returned
to Mali many times, where he has written and
recorded blues-influenced music with traditional
Malian musicians, notably his 2002 release "nightbird",
and 2005’s album and film “Timbuktoubab”, which
have been warmly received by critics in the US
and Europe. He has performed at the Festival In
The Desert, near Timbuktu, in 2003, 2004, and
2006.
