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Taj Mahal Talks 60s, Farming, And Upbringing Before Albany Show

Taj Mahal plays guitar behind a mic on stage
Courtesy of Taj Mahal
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Courtesy of Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Pinning down the sound of Taj Mahal – the official Blues Artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – is no easy feat. The son of a gospel singer and an Afro-Caribbean jazz musician, Mahal’s music is soaked in the psychedelic era of the 60a as well as his constant research into music from around the globe. Before his concert at The Egg in Albany on Saturday, the 77-year-old musician spoke with WAMC about his early life in Western Massachusetts, from growing up in Springfield to his passion for farming.

You can hear the full interview here:

taj_mahal_7-11-19_full_for_web.mp3

Josh Landes has been WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief since February 2018 after working at stations including WBGO Newark and WFMU East Orange. A passionate advocate for Berkshire County, Landes was raised in Pittsfield and attended Hampshire College in Amherst, receiving his bachelor's in Ethnomusicology and Radio Production. You can reach him at jlandes@wamc.org with questions, tips, and/or feedback.