Guitarist Diely Moussa Kouyaté began his career at Bamako, Mali, first with the 'Messagers' of Madane Sanaké (1969-1972), and then with the great singer Kassé Mady Diabaté (1972-73). For the next seven years he set fire to the rhythm section of the Bamako Rail Band, which used to be the star-attraction at the 'Hotel de la Gare' (in those days, each hotel in the Mali capital had its own house-band). It was there that Diely became a friend of Cheick-Tidiane Seck, guitarist Diely Mady Tounkara, and a youngster who had a promising future, singer Mory Kanté (Salif Keita's replacement in the band in 1973).
Between 1982 and 1989, Diely Moussa Kouyaté returned home to Guinea, where he played his part in three groups that were emblems of the musical effervescence bubbling through the dark continent at the time - the Manden Kono orchestra in Siquiri (his birthplace); the group led by his elder brothers Kabiné and Kemo Kouyaté ("maestros referred to as some of the greatest names in Mande culture"); and the famous 'Bembeya Jazz National' from Conakry, a milestone-group in modern music from Guinea, led by the "eminent" guitarist Sekou Diabaté Bembeya.
From 1987 to 1989, Diely Moussa lived in Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, playing in the group of his friend Babadjan Kaba and participating in dozens of recordings with his brothers Diely Mory Kouyaté (called the "old man"), Motou Kouyaté and Fodé Djiguiba Kouyaté.
In 1988 he landed in Paris. The occasion was a studio recording with Nahawa Doumbia (for Africando Productions, a pan-African/salsa collective). His incomparable mastery of Mandingo rhythms subjugated everyone who heard him, and word-of-mouth soon led to offers from studios around Paris, producers such as Camara Kall, and many other artists. So much so that he decided to settle in the French capital. His first record, "Kankou Moussa", was released in 1994. Produced by Diapy Diawara for Bokibana Productions, it was a traditional recording and as such, it had great success in the specialist sector. In 1999, Diely, who also accompanied (at last) Mory Kanté on record for several years, inherited the official title (a heavy role and none the less honourable for it) of "rhythm guitarist" (the real pivot of the orchestra) with Salif Keita.
Recorded in ten days at the 'Studios de la Seine', Sebe Ayale in 2002 his first solo record is jubilant and festive, and was conceived as an anthology of the multiple talents of Diely Moussa Kouyaté - skilled composer, inspired arranger, accomplished instrumentalist, modernist steeped in tradition, first-rate swing-artist and such a glorious promoter of groove....
There was a sizeable gap before his second album, Le Temps arrived, as he toured relentlessly around the world, also recording with many artists. This all took much of Kouyaté?s time before he was able to compose and record new songs. This is where we can find his ?goodfellas? ? those of Salif Keita, Kante Manfila, Kemo Kouyaté, Abdoulaye Diabaté, Amadou Sodia, Mamani Keita, Manian Demba, Ousmane Kouyaté, Ibrahim Somano.
As Salif Keita's regular guitarist Diely Moussa Kouyaté, an affable man who's discreet, quiet-spoken and invariably radiant in appearance (with a soft, amused smile), is commonly known as "President", but prefers his claim to being a "Griot".
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