Motherland Music Artist Profiles

Artist Profiles

Welcome to Motherland Music?s Artist Profiles page. This section of our website is provided as a free service to professional percussionists to give them a place to network with other musicians and also to "show their stuff." Although many of these musicians know us and our instruments, they are not necessarily here to endorse Motherland Music

Some of the artists listed here are available for workshops, and many are looking for gigs. Contact information will be provided by everyone listed.

We will list as many people as time and space allows. Please contact us with Suggestions and comments or if you'd like to be included here. Thank you, and keep on drumming!

Cheri Lunn is a musician working primarily with the drum as a tool for community building, self-empowerment, and healing. Her background in massage therapy, yoga, & meditation are integrated into her workshops in a subtle manner which, in the words of one of her students, "shows us ways to connect back to our own sacredness through body, heart and spirit." (-Lauren Tietje, Bennington, VT) Learn more about her work and how you can bring rhythm and spirit to your event.

Abdoul Doumbia

Abdoul Doumbia was born and raised in Mali, immersed in the ancient musical and cultural traditions of this West African nation. He was called to the drum at the age of 5 and completed a 16-year apprenticeship under Master Drummer Moriba Keita. Abdoul worked with a number of professional dance/drum companies in Mali, including serving as lead drummer for the renowned traditional drumming and dance troupe Babemba for 9 years. Doumbia was also chosen as the representative of his region for eight consecutive years for the National Drum Festival of Mali. Abdoul was invited by Brown University to the United States in 1991 and relocated permanently. In 1998 he moved to Boulder, Colorado where he lives with his wife Katrina and family. Abdoul teaches and performs regularly across the United States, and also organizes cultural tours to Mali on a semi-annual basis.

In 1945, Count M'Butu was born Harold L. Jones in Georgia. As a young boy he sang in the church choir and from that moment on he could see the sun, he knew that music would be in his future. But it would be decades later before he began to realize his dreams.

In 1976 the Count studied music at Georgia State University, and transferred to The Neighborhood Arts Center College in Atlanta, GA where he learned more about African history and music. That same year he was invited to Nigeria to continue his studies. The sights and sounds of Africa's beautiful green surroundings awakened deep spiritual feelings, and he knew he was on the right (musical) path.

While in Africa, the Count learned not only more about playing the drums but also about the art of drum making. There although he became enthralled with the entire impressive array of percussion instruments, the drum became his instrument of choice. He also performed in various African ballets, relating the rich cultural history of Africa through song and dance to appreciative audiences.

Upon returning to Georgia, the Count completed a degree in African studies and continued to study with the great Armando Peraza, percussionist for Santana. The Count began performing publicly in 1979. His "first big break" was playing percussion on the nationally-syndicated music variety TV show "The Memphis Music Store." Guests included Herbie Hancock, Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn and Rufus Thomas, among others. When the show's run ended, the Count went on the road with vocalist Nancy Wilson, The Manhattans, and George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic.

Following those tours, the Count traveled to Europe and moved around performing for American soldiers stationed overseas. Upon returning to the U.S., the Count, then working as a percussionist at a popular nightspot in Atlanta, met Argentinean beauty Graciela Lopez. Lopez was lead singer of a visiting band. And as those old saying goes, they fell in love and began making beautiful music together. Graciela added Latin sabor to the Count's African recipe.

In the late 80s, the Count met underground legend Col. Bruce Hampton. Hampton had worked with other well-known musicians including Frank Zappa and Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones. The first time Col. Hampton met the Count, he proclaimed that henceforward he should be called "Count M'Butu." That was the first of many synchronicities. You see, the family that the Count lived with in Africa was called M'Butu, Col. Hampton couldn't have known that. The Count claims that Col. Hampton was like his lucky rabbit's foot. Theirs was apparently a meeting destined to happen.

The following five years were dedicated to recording and touring with Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit. The band performed for thousands of fans across the U.S. and was featured often on The Horde Tour, comprised bands like Blues Traveler and The Spin Doctors. Hampton & the Acquarium Rescue Unit garnered acclaim from peers and music critics, but in 1995 the band broke up and the Count went on to a solo career. During this time the Count recorded for Warner/Capricorn Records. Along with Graciela Lopez and Harry Case, he began work on his seminal album See The Sun, featuring a unique, inventive Afro-Latin rhythmic fusion driving a variety of melodious jazz numbers.

The Count has shared the stage with such artists as Widespread Panic, Blues Traveler, The Allman Brothers, Phish, and Edwin McCain, and many others. Count M'Butu continues to teach his unique style of hand drumming and is active with the Seminole Indian Tribe in Okeechobee, FL. He can also be heard playing drums on two Chief James Billie CDs.

In 1999 the Count M'Butu signed with Terminus Records and finished producing his long-awaited solo debut See The Sun featuring Graciela Lopez. The final version was due for release in March 2001, and represents the culmination of many years of influences and friendships that blend to form somevery special music.

A few years ago, M'Butu played percussion for Debbie Allen's ballet drama "Soul Possessed," a remarkable production that played to sold-out audiences for two months at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, and and was also presented at the Kennedy Center in New York. Singer James Ingram and flautist/composer Arturo Sandoval were featured.

Currently Count M'Butu lives in Atlanta.

Osei John Kwame

Osei John Kwame popularly known as ?Osei Korankye? started playing the Seperewa at the age of twelve. Hailing from Ghana, Osei developed a keen interest in music quite early in his life. When he was still a child, his grandfather began teaching him to play the Seperewa.

In Ghana, when talk is made of the Seperewa, one of the first names mentioned will be that of Osei. Simply one of the best players of the instrument, Osei is currently the Seperewa?s demonstrator at the International Center for African Music and Dance. Along with being an expert musician, Osei is an accomplished composer on the Seperewa. He has composed several songs for the Hewale Sounds, which is the resident Legon performing group of the University of Ghana's International Center for African Music and Dance. Osei is also the assistant leader of this group.

Throughout his musical career, Osei has had many opportunities to travel to other countries to demonstrate his musical talents. Some of these journeys include: South Africa (on two separate occasions), Abidjan, Norway (Fjiord Festival), Switzerland, The United States (St. Louis Cultural Exchange) and also Germany for various workshops and concerts. Osei is currently living in Boulder, Colorado where he has been conducting workshops at the University of Colorado and the Bantaba Center for World Music and Dance. During his stay in the United States, Osei has traveled around the country to perform concerts in many cities, including New York City. You may contact Osei by sending an email to korankye_osei@yahoo.com