There is no juju music without King Sunny Ade; he is the undeniable living legend of Nigerian juju music.
Born into a royal family on September 22 1946 in Ondo state, Sunday Adeniyi left school to pursue his music career, under the impression of going to University of Lagos. He joined the Olaiya Federal Rhythm Dandies, a Highlife Band but left it to form Green Spots in 1967, which was later changed to African beats. Frustrated by the exploitation of the record industry, Ade started his own record label in 1974.The label has released more than one hundred of Ade’s recordings in Nigeria in the past twenty –five years.
Ade’s career began with the release of “Sunny ti de” with his band; “King Sunny Ade and His African Beats” The song signified the birth of a new king of juju music. Sunny began to gain western attraction when three of his albums-Juju music, Synchro System and Aura was released in the early 80’s on the Mango label, a subordinate of Island records. He embarked on a tour of America and Europe in the 70’s and 80’s where he performed for mixed audiences. His performance was characterized with skillful dancing steps and mastery of the guitar.
In 1983, Ade and his band made their debut American performances to excited crowds in 1983.This gained him compliments from the likes of Trey Anastasio, an American guitarist and composer. These were his exact words
“If you must come to see Sunny Ade live, you must be prepared to groove all night.”
New York Times Robert Palmer described Ade’s concerts as one of the most significant pop music events of the time.
After the untimely demise of Bob Marley, Island records went in search of a new third world artiste to put on its contract. Fela Anikulapo Kuti was out of their reach because at the time, he was signed in to Arista records, thus, producer Martin Meisonnier introduced King Sunny Ade to Chris Blackwell, leading to the release of Juju music in 1982.Though at that time, many music afficianados were quick to assert that Ade’s music deserve such promotion.
However, Ade was dropped by the Island records as a result of his refusal to allow Island to intrude with his compositions. Though the Juju music and Synchro system showed signs that Ade was going to become “the African Bob Marley”, but with the unexpected plummeting of the Aura album in the market, the dream wasn’t actualized. Nevertheless one can’t dispute the fact that Ade’s brief recordings with Island records created opportunities for other world music artistes such as Senegalese Youssou N’Dour, Mali’s Salif Keita and a host of others.
Ade’s music is majorly characterized by the guitar and its peculiar application to its music that easily place him in the same class with the likes of Santana, and the talking drum. He introduced the pedal steel guitar, synthesizers, clavinet, vibraphone, tenor guitar into the Nigerian Juju music.
After Ade was dropped by the island records, he released an album ‘Authority’ in 1990, which failed to rouse much public attention.
‘E Dide’ which was released in 1995 however turned out well. It was followed by ‘Odu’; a collection of ancient songs in 1998.The album was nominated for a Grammy award, thus making Ade the first African to be nominated twice for a Grammy.
Ade has also featured artistes like Manu Dibango, Stevie Wonder, and Onyeka Onwenu amongst others.
Ade and his band were featured in ‘Juju music’ in 1998; ‘Live at Montreux’ in 1990 and ‘Roots of Rhythm’ in 1997.
In 1985, Ade acted in Robert Altman’s comedy; ‘O.C and Stiggs’ and also in Richard Gere’s movie; ‘Breathless’ in 1986.He performed his music in both movies.
Ade has produced so far more than 100 albums.
Moreso, Ade also has chains of companies in several industries, as well as a non –profit organization called the King Sunny Ade foundation which was established in the mid 90’s. The foundation has a performing arts centre, state of the art recording studio and housing unit of young musicians and performers on a five acre territory, which was provided by the Lagos state government. He also owns an oil firm, a mining company, a nightclub, film and video production company, a PR firm and a record label specializing in recordings by African artistes.
With the emergence of electronic media in Nigeria, hip hop music appears to be the rave of the moment. Nevertheless Sunny Ade’s musical output has persistently motivated a vast generation of other Nigerian musicians who strongly believed in his music. One of such musicians is Lagbaja.
The legend is reticent about his marital life. Though it was reported that he has many wives and lost two wives in the year 2008.There were also speculations that he dated Onyeka Onwenu who did a song with him ‘wait for me’.
Some of his popular music were: ’Ja funmi’, Wait for me’, Sunny ti de’, among others.
Born into a royal family on September 22 1946 in Ondo state, Sunday Adeniyi left school to pursue his music career, under the impression of going to University of Lagos. He joined the Olaiya Federal Rhythm Dandies, a Highlife Band but left it to form Green Spots in 1967, which was later changed to African beats. Frustrated by the exploitation of the record industry, Ade started his own record label in 1974.The label has released more than one hundred of Ade’s recordings in Nigeria in the past twenty –five years.
Ade’s career began with the release of “Sunny ti de” with his band; “King Sunny Ade and His African Beats” The song signified the birth of a new king of juju music. Sunny began to gain western attraction when three of his albums-Juju music, Synchro System and Aura was released in the early 80’s on the Mango label, a subordinate of Island records. He embarked on a tour of America and Europe in the 70’s and 80’s where he performed for mixed audiences. His performance was characterized with skillful dancing steps and mastery of the guitar.
In 1983, Ade and his band made their debut American performances to excited crowds in 1983.This gained him compliments from the likes of Trey Anastasio, an American guitarist and composer. These were his exact words
“If you must come to see Sunny Ade live, you must be prepared to groove all night.”
New York Times Robert Palmer described Ade’s concerts as one of the most significant pop music events of the time.
After the untimely demise of Bob Marley, Island records went in search of a new third world artiste to put on its contract. Fela Anikulapo Kuti was out of their reach because at the time, he was signed in to Arista records, thus, producer Martin Meisonnier introduced King Sunny Ade to Chris Blackwell, leading to the release of Juju music in 1982.Though at that time, many music afficianados were quick to assert that Ade’s music deserve such promotion.
However, Ade was dropped by the Island records as a result of his refusal to allow Island to intrude with his compositions. Though the Juju music and Synchro system showed signs that Ade was going to become “the African Bob Marley”, but with the unexpected plummeting of the Aura album in the market, the dream wasn’t actualized. Nevertheless one can’t dispute the fact that Ade’s brief recordings with Island records created opportunities for other world music artistes such as Senegalese Youssou N’Dour, Mali’s Salif Keita and a host of others.
Ade’s music is majorly characterized by the guitar and its peculiar application to its music that easily place him in the same class with the likes of Santana, and the talking drum. He introduced the pedal steel guitar, synthesizers, clavinet, vibraphone, tenor guitar into the Nigerian Juju music.
After Ade was dropped by the island records, he released an album ‘Authority’ in 1990, which failed to rouse much public attention.
‘E Dide’ which was released in 1995 however turned out well. It was followed by ‘Odu’; a collection of ancient songs in 1998.The album was nominated for a Grammy award, thus making Ade the first African to be nominated twice for a Grammy.
Ade has also featured artistes like Manu Dibango, Stevie Wonder, and Onyeka Onwenu amongst others.
Ade and his band were featured in ‘Juju music’ in 1998; ‘Live at Montreux’ in 1990 and ‘Roots of Rhythm’ in 1997.
In 1985, Ade acted in Robert Altman’s comedy; ‘O.C and Stiggs’ and also in Richard Gere’s movie; ‘Breathless’ in 1986.He performed his music in both movies.
Ade has produced so far more than 100 albums.
Moreso, Ade also has chains of companies in several industries, as well as a non –profit organization called the King Sunny Ade foundation which was established in the mid 90’s. The foundation has a performing arts centre, state of the art recording studio and housing unit of young musicians and performers on a five acre territory, which was provided by the Lagos state government. He also owns an oil firm, a mining company, a nightclub, film and video production company, a PR firm and a record label specializing in recordings by African artistes.
With the emergence of electronic media in Nigeria, hip hop music appears to be the rave of the moment. Nevertheless Sunny Ade’s musical output has persistently motivated a vast generation of other Nigerian musicians who strongly believed in his music. One of such musicians is Lagbaja.
The legend is reticent about his marital life. Though it was reported that he has many wives and lost two wives in the year 2008.There were also speculations that he dated Onyeka Onwenu who did a song with him ‘wait for me’.
Some of his popular music were: ’Ja funmi’, Wait for me’, Sunny ti de’, among others.
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