Labah Sosseh

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Labah Sosseh (March 12, 1943 – September 20, 2007) was a Senegalese and Gambian singer and musician. He was known as the "West African salsa king."^[1]

Sosseh's career began at the age of 20 when he began playing with group called the African Jazz Band in Gambia.^[1] He then moved to the Ivory Coast and formed the Super International Band, based in Abidjan.^[1]

Sosseh returned to his native Senegal from the Ivory Coast. There he formed his most famous group, the Star Band.^[1] The Star Band's original lineup included singer Youssou N'dour, before N'dour left the band to pursue a successful solo singing career.^[1]

Sosseh was greatly influenced by Cuban music.^[1] He resided in Cuba for several years. His Cuban inspired music earned Sosseh the nickname of "La voz africana," which means "African voice", in Spanish.^[1]

He made history by becoming one of the first African musicians to sell over a million records and have a recording certified gold.^[1]

By his own admission, Sosseh revealed that he had fathered 27 children throughout his life in an interview with the Le Nouvel Observateur newspaper.^[1]

In a June 2007 interview, Sosseh stated that he had been suffering from a throat infection and had spent time in the hospital. Sosseh died on September 20, 2007 at a clinic in Dakar, Senegal, at the age of 64.^[1]