Babatunde (Baba) Olatunji, the virtuoso drummer, and widely proclaimed Father of African Drumming, celebrated his seventy-fourth birthday with a party and tribute at the Paramount Theater in New York City on April 7th and 8th.

Baba's American career began in 1958 with a performance at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, and has delighted audiences around the world. Baba was awarded a Grammy in 1991. He is the founder of Voices of Africa, a non-profit organization that raises money for education and health care for impoverished families in Africa.

Baba's music has inspired musicians from Carlos Santana to Patti LaBelle. He continues to perform, and give drum and dance lessons at the Omega Institute, the Kripalu Center, and the Esalen Institute.