Here are a couple of musicians that a lot of people probably wouldn't have bet on a number of years ago.

The last time Amadou and Mariam put out a CD, it propelled them from novelty to international sensation.

The novelty phase started when "the blind couple from Mali," as they're often billed, recorded an album in France and began touring internationally.

They had a great backstory: Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia met at the Institute for Blind Youth in Bamako, Mali's capital.

They fell in love, and began a musical partnership.

In 2003, Amadou and Mariam met Spanish-French rocker Manu Chao.

He caught their bug, and produced the CD "Dimanche a Bamako" for them.

That was their break-out moment.

The album threw Malian music into the pop charts in Europe, and Amadou and Mariam found themselves playing to crowds in the tens of thousands.

It was the British producer and ex-Blur frontman Damon Albarn who came knocking on their door in Bamako next.

Albarn had chops in West Africa -- in Mali and Nigeria.

Albarn brought a fresh sensibility to Amadou and Mariam's music -- when he produced this song for them -- "Sabali."

"Sabali" was elected one of the top 100 tracks of 2008 by Chicago-based Pitchfork Media.

Not bad for a tune that hadn't been released yet in the US.

Amadou and Mariam will be on the road in the US this summer...opening for none other than Coldplay.

Mali gets into the mainstream.