bio

 

EMILE HASSAN DYER

Affectionately known by his fans in Asia as "Jambo",
vocalist/ multi-percussionist/choreographer/dancer/storyteller Emile
Hassan Dyer was raised in France and Senegal where he was influenced at an
early age by the rhythms and music of West Africa.
Emile brings a multicultural perspective to music, drawing on his
Cherokee and African heritages while performing the
percussion instruments and vocal styles of many
cultures.

He has worked with such luminaries as:
Babatunde Olatunji, Bobby McFerrin, Kevin Locke, Titos Sompas, David Darling,
Glen Velez and Jim Scott, as well as Art Baron of the Duke Ellington Big Band.
Emile uses vocal and body percussion as well as drums
from around the world and extensive vocalese in his musical creations.

He has composed for and performed with:
Marion Scott's Spirit Dances (LA), Kei Takei‚s Moving Earth Dance Company (Japan),
Creach and Koester Dance Theater (NY), Martita Goshen Dance Ensemble (NY),
Tandy Beal and Friends (SF), Djanbazian Dance Company (Iran), AARE Dance Collaboration (LA),
Kuumba Na Nia (W. Africa). He is cofounder of Amalgam Dance Theater,
and cofounder the a capella groups, Pandora's Vox and Primitive Soul.

Emile has toured nationally and internationally as percussionist and vocalist for WorldColor,
and has performed at such prestigious venues as the Birendra
Convention Centre in Kathmandu (Nepal), the Chatauqua Institute (NY),
the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts (NY), the Los Angeles Civic Center,
the Kravis Center (Florida), Urban Gateways (Chicago), the House of Blues (Hollywood),
as well as the Troubador, the Whisky a go go, Genghis Cohen, and Highland Grounds
(Hollywood). In 2001, Emile had the honor of performing inside Stonehenge at the
request of the Arch Druid of England for the victims of 9-11.
Emile has appeared in several music videos for MTV and VH1,
including Bobby McFerrin's "The Garden".
In October, 2004, Emile founded the Rhythm Tribe Song Circle in Los Angeles CA,
a non auditioned, multi-ethnic community choir for people who just want to sing.
In February 2005, he completed the Community Choir Leadership Training program
in Victoria BC with Shivon Robinsong and Denis Donnelly of
the Gettin' Higher Choir.

In the fall of 2006, Emile teamed up with Maggie Wheeler to co-direct the all inclusive,
non-auditioned, family oriented, Golden Bridge Community Choir, which meets on Sundays at the
Golden Bridge Yoga Center in Hollywood. The choir which started out with 23 curious souls
now boasts 70 enthusiastic members.


In November 2007, Emile won TrueNica Music's International Song Writing Contest for Human Rites'
Dance For World Peace, with his song, "There Are Many Happy People".
Emile also choreographed the dance and performed in the video released on New Years Day.
To access the video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKIeJOA6iCk
You can also download the song at, www.pamelawhitman.com

Recently, writer, author and singer Malayna Dawn, now residing in Sri Lanka, after viewing
Emile's video, wrote an article about Emile and his journey in the Daily Mantra,
an online publication with an international following.
You can view the article at,
http://www.dailymantra.com/2008/02/emile_hassan_dyer_dances_for_w_1.html#more

And the beat goes on...