Star Number One

Senegalese Afro-Cuban Band

In 1976, Yakhya Fall, who had joined Star Band (Star Band de Dakar) in 1970 but had a falling out with founder Ibra Kassé, started the group Starbund Numero Un along with other disgruntled former Star Band members. The new group was forced to drop the Star Band reference from its name. They kept the Numero Un, but changed it to English, initially releasing albums as Star Number One. Subsequent albums brought slight name changes to the group: Orchesta Number One de Dakar, Number One du Senegal, Number One, No. 1 De Dakar, and Starband Number One. Each of these variations may appear with abbreviated forms of "Number One" on different releases. Founding members include Pape Seck, trumpeter Ali Penda N'Doye, and vocalists Mar Seck and Nicolas Menheim. The group's sound is heavily influenced by Cuban music.