Tidiani Koné was a Malian musician, born in 1926 in Sansanding, Mali. He initially played traditional instruments such as the n’goni and flute before transitioning to saxophone in the 1960s, joining the orchestra of San. In 1970, at the request of Aly Diallo, the chief of the Bamako train station, Koné formed the Rail Band de Bamako with members of the Dar Band and Salif Keita. Mory Kanté joined the group in 1971. Koné's versatile skills extended to guitar, trumpet, violin, clarinet, and tumba. In 1978, he returned to his native region of Ségou to lead the Biton de Ségou. Koné passed away in February 2001.
