A blues guitarist who infused his style with musical influences from Africa, the
Caribbean and Latin America, Taj Mahal helped pioneer world music while
rejuvenating the roots and traditions of American folk music. Born Henry Saint
Clair Fredericks, he soaked up a love of music from his jazz pianist father and
gospel singing mother before taking up the guitar as a 13-year-old and forming a
doo-wop group. Naming himself Taj Mahal after dreams he had of Gandhi and India,
he formed R&B act The Rising Sons with Ry Cooder and went on to work with
Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins and Th...