Vieux Farka Touré is a singer/songwriter and guitarist from Mali who creates a fusion of blues, soul and African music. Despite being son of one of the most internationally renowned artists to emerge out of Africa, Ali Farka Touré, he was initially discouraged by his father from pursuing a career music, due to the trials and tribulations of the business. Touré ignored his father's advice and enrolled in Bamako, Mali's Institut National des Arts where he studied guitar. After catching the attention of producer Eric Herman of the well-respected music label Modiba, he released his self-titled debut album in 2007 and went on to release a record a year for the next four years, including the 2011 studio LP, The Secret.