History Main / WorldMusic

* King Suddy Adé: Nigerian musician and guitarist.

* Music/TearsForFears: "Listen" from ''Music/SongsFromTheBigChair'' is very much inspired by world music, as are several songs off of their third album, ''Music/TheSeedsOfLove'', while their fifth album, ''Music/RaoulAndTheKingsOfSpain'' is heavily inspired by Spanish music crossed with ProgressiveRock.

* Music/TheRollingStones: Their song "Paint It, Black", from ''Music/AftermathAlbum'' (1966) and the song "Gomper" features Music/BrianJones on sitar. "Continental Drift" from ''Music/SteelWheels'' (1989) was recorded with the Moroccan folk band The Master Musicians of Jojouka and has a distinctive Arabic sound to it.

* Music/TheRollingStones: Their song "Paint It, Black", from ''Music/{{Aftermath}}'' (1966) and the song "Gomper" features Music/BrianJones on sitar. "Continental Drift" from ''Music/SteelWheels'' (1989) was recorded with the Moroccan folk band The Master Musicians of Jojouka and has a distinctive Arabic sound to it.

It encompasses Nordic and Eastern European FolkMusic, CountryMusic, {{Blues}}, {{Bluegrass}} CountryMusic, {{Zydeco}}, {{Afrobeat}}, AfricanChant, Samba, {{Reggae}}, {{Ska}}, Indian raga music, Native American music, Tuvan throat singing, Raï,... As probably the oldest "music genre" in existence by the broadest definition, world music has remained popular over the centuries. The term really started to become its own "genre" from the 1950s on, when many musicians from different continents started releasing albums and touring in the West, increasing their notability. The arrival of TV also brought more people in contact with music from different parts of the world. As ClassicalMusic, {{Jazz}}, {{Folk Rock}} and {{Rock}} musicians started to incorporate world music influences in their own work more people got interested in the exotic, mysterious and wonderful sounds. Compared to the bland shallowness of mainstream pop, world music has an authentic originality to it, InHarmonyWithNature and often makes the listener dream of visiting that other world.

* George Harrison:
** 1968 - ''Music/WonderWallMusic'' (Despite being a solo album by the famous Beatle most music on it is traditional Indian music, making it more a world music album than actual pop or rock.)
** 1971 - ''Music/TheConcertForBangladesh'' (most the album is firmly in the Rock category, but side one of the LP is classical Indian music from Music/RaviShankar)

* Music/AfroCeltSoundSystem: British electronica group which incorporates Celtic and West African folk music.

* Harry Belafonte: Jamaican-American singer, composer, ACLU ambassador and civil rights activist; well known for popularizing calypso music like "The Bananaboat Song (Day-O)".

* Peter Gabriel:
** 1989 - ''Music/{{Passion}}'' (a soundtrack album consisting of elements of Middle Eastern and African music)

** Also in 1971, produced ''The Radha Krishna Temple'', devotional chants by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and re-issued as ''Goddess of Fortune'', later as ''Chant And Be Happy''. This album, particularly the upbeat "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna" mantra, soaked into public consciousness not only because it was produced by a Beatle, but because for a few years it was ''ubiquitous'' on underground, college and community radio stations, and in hippie shops and bookstores.

* Afro-Celt Sound System: British band who mixed Irish and West African music with modern electronic dance.

** 1971 - ''The Radha Krishna Temple''

* Malcolm [=McLaren=]: The former [[/index]]]Music/SexPistols[[index]] manager had since released albums which incorporated world music.

** 1980 - ''Music/{{Peter Gabriel|1980}}''
** 1982 - ''Music/{{Peter Gabriel|1982}}''

* Music/TheBeatles: On ''Music/RubberSoul'', ''Music/{{Revolver}}'' and ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'' the tracks "Norwegian Wood", "Love You To" and "Within You Without You" have Music/GeorgeHarrison play a sitar.