Carolina Performing Arts welcomes back global music icon Youssou N’Dour as part of CPA’s Tenth Season celebration

 

Carolina Performing Arts welcomes back global music icon Youssou N?Dour as part of CPA?s Tenth Season celebration

 Chapel Hill, NC (September 12, 2014) ? Carolina Performing Arts presents a one-night-only performance from Grammy award-winning global superstar Youssou N?Dour. Performing at Memorial Hall, N?Dour returns to Chapel Hill with his band of nearly 30 years, Super Étoile, for a rare stateside performance on Tuesday, September 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Featuring traditional griot oral history, Wolof lyrics, praise singing with Afro-Cuban arrangements and with influences from hip-hop, jazz and soul, N?Dours music has captured the world?s attention for three decades. N?Dour pioneered mbalax, a popular form of Senegalese dance music, and has had success crossing over into Western pop music. From his famous duet with Peter Gabriel, ?In Your Eyes,? to his collaborations with Sting, Wyclef Jean, Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen, N?Dour continues to live up to the Rolling Stone Magazine?s description of him as ?perhaps the most famous singer alive.?

?Not only is Youssou N?Dour a global music icon, he is one of my personal heroes,? said Carolina Performing Arts Executive and Artistic Director Emil Kang. ?Youssou?s ability, to inspire millions is astounding, and the fact that he has had such an impact on so many as one man and one voice is remarkable. We are truly fortunate to have him returning to Chapel Hill.?

Named in TIME magazine?s annual list of ?the hundred men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world,? N?Dour?s rootedness in Senegalese music and storytelling remains the hallmark of his artistic personality. Youssou has been a part of the Carolina Performing Arts family since the beginning, performing for our opening season in 2005.

For tickets and more information about Youssou N?Dour, please visit carolinaperformingarts.org

About Carolina Performing Arts

The mission of Carolina Performing Arts (CPA) is to enrich lives by creating and presenting exceptional arts experiences and connecting them to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) community and beyond. Established in 2005 at UNC-Chapel Hill, Carolina Performing Arts presents the very best from the full spectrum of the performing arts: internationally renowned recitalists and orchestras; dance and chamber ensembles; jazz, roots and world music performers; and opera and theatre companies. In the 2014/15, CPA celebrates its 10th season. In addition to returning favorites, CPA is partnering with UNC-Chapel Hill?s Southern Folklife Collection as they celebrate 25 years; the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Arts and Humanities? campus-wide World War I Centenary Project; and will present a three performance program in its inaugural Curatorial Fellowship through CPA?s Arts@TheCore initiative.

CPA strives to nurture artistic innovation and the development of new works on and off campus; to challenge and inspire audiences with powerful and transformative performances; and to integrate the arts into the life of the University, embracing its mission of teaching, research and public service. For more information, please visit www.carolinaperformingarts.org.