Don Alias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Alias
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| Birth name | Charles Alias |
| Born | December 25, 1939 New York City, New York United States |
| Died | March 28, 2006 (aged 66) New York City, New York United States |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums, conga drums, percussion, bongos, djembe, udu, shaker, finger cymbals, tambourine, bells, cabasa, claves, palitos, African drums, batá drum, cowbell, marimba, cymbals, timbales, dumbek, timpani, quinto, shekere, snare drum, African percussion, kalimba, mark tree, jam block |
| Years active | 1960's-2006 |
| Associated acts | Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock |
Charles "Don" Alias (born December 25, 1939, in New York City – died March 28, 2006, in New York City) was an American jazz musician. He was famous for playing many different percussion instruments.
Don Alias was especially known for playing congas and other hand drums. He played on hundreds of music recordings. He worked with many famous artists like Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, and Nina Simone.
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A Life in Music
Don Alias was born in New York City. In the early 1960s, he moved to Boston. He originally planned to study medicine. However, he started playing congas in local bands. He loved music so much that he decided to change his career. He became a full-time musician instead of a doctor.
Playing with the Stars
Don Alias was a very busy musician. He played with many of the biggest names in jazz and other music styles. His unique drumming added a special sound to their songs.
Working with Miles Davis
One of his most famous partnerships was with the legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. Don Alias played on important albums like On the Corner and Amandla. His percussion helped create new and exciting sounds for Miles Davis's music.
Collaborations with Other Artists
Don Alias also worked with many other well-known musicians:
- He played with the famous jazz fusion band Weather Report.
- He joined singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell on her albums, including Don Juan's Reckless Daughter and Mingus.
- He performed with jazz piano great Herbie Hancock.
- He was a key part of bassist Jaco Pastorius's band.
- He also played with guitarist Pat Metheny and singer Nina Simone.
Don Alias's ability to play many different percussion instruments made him a valuable musician. He could fit into many different music styles. He helped create the sound of many important albums throughout his career.
His Instruments
Don Alias was a master of many percussion instruments. He didn't just play drums. He played a wide variety of instruments from all over the world.
Some of the instruments he played included:
- Conga drums and bongos: These are hand drums often used in Latin American music.
- Djembe and udu: These are traditional African percussion instruments.
- Shakers and tambourines: These add rhythmic sounds.
- Marimba: A large instrument with wooden bars that are hit with mallets.
- Timbales: A pair of shallow single-headed drums.
- Batá drum: A double-headed drum shaped like an hourglass.
Don Alias passed away in 2006, but his music and contributions to jazz and other genres continue to be enjoyed by many.
See also
In Spanish: Don Alias para niños
