Star Band

Star Band is a music group from Senegal that was the resident band of Dakar's Miami Club.^[1][2] They, along with the many off-shoots of the band, are responsible for many of the crucial developments in Senegalese popular music.^[3] They were formed in 1959 by the owner of the Miami Club, Ibra Kasse. As was typical in Africa at the time, Kasse owned the instruments and was the band leader of the Star Band although he only occasionally played piano. Each one of the band's twelve albums released in Senegal featured a photo of Kasse on the back cover stating that he was the band leader, composer and arranger.^[4]

Formed to celebrate Senegal's independence in 1960, Kasse recruited members of other band including Guinea-Jazz and Tropical Jazz. The band has hosted many of Senegal's most influential musicians, Youssou N'Dour being the most notable, and gave birth to several splinter groups including Le Super Star de Dakar, Orchestra Baobab, Star Number One who considered themselves to be the original Star Band, and Etoile de Dakar.^[5] Star Band singers Pape Seck and Laba Sosseh would later go on to sing with Africando.