Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr. (born May 17, 1942), better known by his stage name Taj Mahal, is an American blues musician. He plays the guitar, piano, banjo, harmonica, and many other instruments,[1] often incorporating elements of world music into his work. Mahal has done much to reshape the definition and scope of blues music over the course of his more than 50-year career by fusing it with nontraditional forms, including sounds from the Caribbean, Africa, India, Hawaii, and the South Pacific.[2]
Taj Mahal
Anna de Leon,
Inshirah Mahal (1976–Present)
Carole Fredericks (sister), Aya de Leon (daughter), Deva Mahal (daughter)
- Musician
- songwriter
- Vocals
- guitar
- banjo
- harmonica
- piano
1964–present
Personal life[edit]
Mahal's first marriage was to Anna de Leon.[29] He refers to Anna in the song "Texas Woman Blues" with the spoken words "Señorita de Leon, escucha mi canción". That marriage produced one daughter, the novelist and professor Aya de Leon. Taj Mahal married Inshirah Geter on January 23, 1976, and together they have six children. His daughter Deva Mahal appeared on one episode of Dating Around.[30]
Taj Mahal has received three Grammy Awards (ten nominations) over his career.[1]
On February 8, 2006, Taj Mahal was designated the official Blues Artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.[36]
In March 2006, Taj Mahal, along with his sister, the late Carole Fredericks, received the Foreign Language Advocacy Award from the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in recognition of their commitment to shine a spotlight on the vast potential of music to foster genuine intercultural communication.[37]
On May 22, 2011, Taj Mahal received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He also made brief remarks and performed three songs. A video of the performance can be found online.[38]
In 2014, Taj Mahal received the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement award.
Live DVDs
Movies
TV Shows
