But he was perhaps best known as the curator of incredibly wide-ranging tribute projects, and for bringing vastly eclectic creative personalities together. Allen is known as a co-founder of Afrobeat for his groundbreaking work with his musical compatriot Fela Kuti in the '60s and '70s as drummer and musical director for Kuti's group Africa '70. His first such project was Amarcord Nino Rota, from 1981, featuring such acclaimed jazz musicians as Jaki Byard, Muhal Richard Abrams, Bill Frisell and Carla Bley. He had symptoms consistent with those caused by COVID-19. More recently, he worked on the IFC series “The Spoils of Babylon” and “The Spoils Before Dying.”, The experimental vocalist Diamanda Galas, who first met Willner when he oversaw booking for the late-night music show “Night Music” in the 1980s, recalled to the Quietus why artists were so drawn to him: “The man produces records by looking at the artist, and all he or she has done, and suddenly he knows the songs, the people to call for the arrangements, the musicians from his mammoth selection of musical geniuses.”, Calling him “a visionary,” Galas added that Willner “does not censor his radar because some conventional fool does not understand him.”. “Maybe they don’t need to be inspired in that way. Willner was renowned as a multi-talented producer of albums by Lou Reed, Marianne Faithfull, Lucinda Williams as well as elaborate multi-artist tribute compilations to Charles Mingus, Kurt Weil and others — but unquestionably his most widely-heard work was the music he helmed for the skits on “SNL” for nearly 40 years, beginning in 1981. All rights reserved. In the closing moments of the first-ever “ Saturday Night Live From Home,” the show paid tribute to its longtime sketch-music maestro Hal Willner, who died on April 7 with symptoms … music festival in Brooklyn, New York in 2007. #RSDDrops #RSD2020 #RSD20 #recordstoreday #ShopIndie ##socialdistancing #2020iswack #recordstores #recordstoresarecool #loverecordstores, A post shared by Record Store Day US (@recordstoredayus) on Apr 29, 2020 at 5:59am PDT. Bill Tompkins/Getty Images The Polish Ministry of Affairs announced his death on Sunday, though no cause of death was given. As a producer, he worked with Marianne Faithfull, Lou Reed, the Neville Brothers, Leon Redbone and dozens more. Election of a board majority will shape the nation’s largest community college district. Listen hard, then harder. Allen published his autobiography, Tony Allen: An Autobiography of the Master Drummer of Afrobeat, in 2013. Learn more about how you can donate to or apply for assistance via the Recording Academy's and MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund. Follow his lead and call the shots when they needed to be called.”. All rights reserved. Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. I go to Avenue A now and listen to what people are talking about, and it isn’t culture. He was also known for his idiosyncratic covers albums. Bream established the Julian Bream Trust in 2008 to provide financial help for the less well-off, young and gifted music students, and to continue the work of commissioning new compositions for the guitar. It was 100 times better than the recordings, and I've been obsessed ever since.". Hal’s contributions to countless unforgettable musical moments across film, TV and recordings have left an irrefutable mark on our culture, and we send our deepest condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time," said Harvey Mason Jr, Chairman and Interim CEO Recording Academy. H,' he tweeted.