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Jim Rex Lawson

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Abari Biya (as Rex Lawson)
Bere Bote (as Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson)
Owuna Derina (as Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson)
Nume Inye (as Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson)
The Rough Guide to Highlife (2003, World Music Network)
Ihe Chi Nyere M (1974)
Ikoro (1974)
Ochu Okuko New Ada (1974)
Uwa Atuola M Ujo (1974)
Akwa Uwa (1975)
Ana M Ele Chi (1975)
Chi Abu Ofu (1975)

more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_Sir_Warrior


Oliver The Coque

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Oliver De Coque (born Oliver Sunday Akanite) (April 14, 1947 – June 21, 2008) was a Nigerian singer and guitarist. He started playing music at the age of 17 with Ekpili. De Coque is from Ezinifite, Nnewi, South Local Government Area of Anambra State. oliver de coque has recorded not less than 73 albums in a quick succession, his music dance style is known as ogene sound , wish blend modern high life and traditional igbo music,


Dan Orji



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Nze Dan Orji- Aku Ji Eshi Obi Ike 1 of Orji ( Wealth Gives Confidence). Dan Orji was born on 5th December 1945 into the family of Late Mazi Chima Orji of Aro Village in Orji Autonomous Community, Owerri North LGA of Imo State, Nigeria. He is the pioneer of what we call today Bongo Music. Dan Orji Started to play music in 1957. He was the founder of the Orji Rankers. Later he founded with Peacocks International Band in 1970. In 1972 Sambola Mama was released and it became the household song of 1970’s in the Old Owerri and beyond. It took Owerri and environs by storm since the Peacock boys were from around town. Danny was the vocalist for the Peacocks. He was to leave the band in 1975 to form his own group called Skylarks, they released many hits such as “Jigi Jigi Kpom Kpom” and “Mama Aliche”, which has replayed by many upcoming artists across Imo state. “Every Owerri man is playing my music” said Nze Dan Orji. Along with his musical success all over Africa, Dan Orji is a well accomplished family man, he is a married with 8 Children. He is currently living in Orji and managing his Construction Company, Chinedu Builders Ltd. Dan Orji is a well-respected leader in the Orji Community.He was the Vice Chairman for the Late Royal Highness Eze Benjamin Akakem (Eze Ugo 1 of Orj)i. He has trained many youths in music, he was the founder and former leader of Orji Youths Cultural Dance Group. Dan Orji is a very strong Orjian and will continue to revolutionize music till God calls for his time. Recently Dan Orji, took time away from writing music and composed an Autobiography about himself titled My Odyssey. - See more at: http://bongolife.com/

Bright Chimezie










Popular Zzigima singer, Bright Chimezie (a.k.a Okoro Junior) is as old as his fatherland, Nigeria. He was born on October 1, 1960 at a time the country severed its colonial cord from Britain.
So the child of independence, as he is fondly called by close friends has a reason for being independent minded. Symbolically, Chimezie is so much in love with his tradition that while some of his colleagues depend on foreign products for a living, he prefers to sing, work and dress as a true African.

An ardent lover and promoter of his culture, Chimezie has impacted positively on his fans and has equally been well patronised by indivduals and corporate bodies. For instance, Chimezie featured prominently in all the Golden Tones Concerts sponsored by Benson and Hedges in the late 1990s. He also performed alongside such artistes as Daniel Wilson, Orits Wiliki and Ras Kimono in a major promotional concert that toured United Kingdom.

INTERVIEW WITH BRIGHT CHIMEZIE
Can you tell us about the beginning, how it all started?
I started playing music as a member of the church choir. I sang alto, bass among other numbers. I was about 10 years old then. Later when I gained admission into secondary school, my interest in music grew tremendously. Earlier, I was initiated into the tradition (Igborokiti) music of my people. I was then a pupil of Eke Oba Community School in Umuahia, Abia State. Igbokiriti is a genre of music played by the elders during funerals and other important festivals. Right from childhood, I gained popularity by entertaining people with a local guitar.
But in my secondary school, I used to play the music of George Benson, Bobby Benson, Hot Chocolate and other reigning musicians in those days. In my second year, I started leading the school cultural music group. Other students loved me so much that the senior students stopped punishing me because I used to entertain them with my music. My nickname then was Ocean and the senior students called me Chimezie and the Ocean Band. I soon became a household name in the school because I used to play some funny sounds with my hand placed under my armpits.
Between education and music
As a member of the Literary and Debating Society, we had a programme billed for the television but I was not selected to represent my school and that made me sad. I wanted to appear on TV. But there was nothing I could do. So, I made up my mind that if I could not appear on a TV as a debater, I could appear as a musician. I wrote a letter to Pal Akalonu and Stoneface Iwuagwu who were then the producers of Now Sound asking them to feature me in their programme. Threafter I did not receive a reply.
Meanwhile, I was surprised one day when Stoneface Iwuagwu arrived at my School asking for me. He went to my principal and showed him a letter from the director of NTA asking me to come for recording. That was the happiest day of my life. But my happiness was short-lived. My parents did not want me to be a musician. In fact, I did not want to tell them that I was to go to Aba for recording. I knew they would have stopped me. But I had to raise the money for the trip to Aba.
First recording/band
Since I found it difficult to raise money, I had to engage in farming to raise eight shillings (80k). With the money in my pocket, I went to NTA Aba. During the recording, I sang Eddy Grant Neighbour, Neighbour, among other songs. I did it with some degree of maturity and the producers were thrilled. I was so excited that I would soon be featured on television.
I told my parents about it but they did not believe me. My parents had no TV then, but we all gathered round my uncle’s TV set and the programme was transmitted. My parents were astounded. I became an instant hero in my town. After my secondary education, my father insisted that I should proceed to the university. But I did not want to go. I established the Modernised Odumodu Cultural Dance Group and we became so popular in the whole of Eastern Nigeria. The group specialised in story telling through music. We told the story of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Actually, Chinua Achebe influenced me a lot, along with Cyprian Ekwensi, Elechi Amadi and other novelists. We were moving towards singing authentic Igbo rhythm with modernised songs.
That was why we called ourselves Bright Chimezie and the Modernised Odumodu Cultural Group. That was the beginning of what you know today as Zzigima Sound. In 1979, I disbanded the group because there were clashes among the members. I later left home for Lagos where I stayed with my elder brother at Ajegunle.

Philosophy/live shows
My aim in those days was to play traditional music that would be accepted worldwide. I was bent on internationalising our traditional music. But in those days, I could not play the guitar. In fact, I owe a debt of gratitude to Joe King Kologbo who used to live in Apapa then. He was the first person to teach me how to play the guitar. He also featured me in a TV programme, Why Don’t you be a Star at a time when the contract fee was only N15. Deinde Gilbert also featured me in a programme and I played at several night clubs such as Phoenician Night Club, Gondola Club (at Yaba) as well as Tee Mac Connection at Mama Koko Hotel, Ebute-Metta.
In 1980, I learnt that there were vacancies in the Customs and Excise Dance Band. I applied and was successful. I was there from 1980 to 1983. During this period, I combined my music with the job. I also featured at the Cultural Centre, University of Lagos on many occasions.

First album, Respect Africa
While working for the Customs, I was also busy shaping up my brand of music by producing demos. But the more I prepared the demo cassettes, the more they were rejected. In 1984, I was informed that Rogers All Stars Recording Company was interested in traditional African music. I went to Onitsha to give him my demo. He listened to it, and made his decision to release me. That was the birth of Respect Africa, the album that shot me into limelight.

Zzigima sound
Zzigima means Ozi I Ga Ma in Igbo language. It means the message that everyone (Africans) should know. My music is rooted in the cultural music of my people. I am out to promote African culture and African ways of life. Our people have become copycats in their manners of eating, dressing and even talking. All these have to change. Otherwise, Africans would not be different from bats that neither belong to the air nor to the land. We have to retrace our steps to our African ways of doing things, which are even superior to the European an American ways which we now imitate. That is all about Zzigima sound, the message for every African all over the world.

Awards
I was conferred with the Duke of African Music Award by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Tribune Chapel, Ibadan on February 14,1998. I also bagged a chieftaincy title from Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin II, the Ogiyan of Ejigboland in Osun State.
Culled from the article:
Chinua Achebe inspired my love for African musicBy SOLA BALOGUN
- See more at: http://nigeriamusicbox.com/bright-chimezie-nigerian-musician/#sthash.VAR8GRHN.dpuf




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Rex Jim Lawson (1935 - 1971), known as Cardinal Rex, was a singer, trumpeter and bandleader from Kalabari, Nigeria. He became one of the best-known highlife musicians of the 1960s in Africa when Cardinal and his band dominated Nigeria’s highlife scene



He was born to Igbo and Kalabari parents in 1935.

Lawson played with Sammy Obot, Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya, Chris Ajilo, and other Ghanaian and Nigerian musicians and bands. His greatest success came as the leader of the Majors Band (also called the Rivers Men in later years); their recorded hits include So ala teme, Yellow Sisi, Gowon Special, and Jolly Papa.
highly emotional and deep musician, Lawson was known to weep and shed tears while singing his own songs on stage, notably the haunting So ala teme. The late Sir Maliki Showman, the famous Nigerian tenor saxophonist who played with Rex Lawson, Bobby Benson and Victor Uwaifo, remembers Lawson as always placing music over money. Lawson is famed for his infectious gregariousness, his musical vision, talent, perseverance and individuality. After his death, the The Rivers Men re-established themselves as The Professional Seagulls Dance Band and The Peacocks band.
Lawson died in 1971 in a car accident on his way to play a show in Warri, Nigeria. He was 36 years old. After his death, his band continued as the Professional Seagulls.[2]Lawson was married to Chief (Mrs.) Regina Rex Lawson who died in October 2008





His music is loved to this day in Nigeria. His songs are regularly performed and danced at live band shows in Nigeria, and a number of young musicians have remixed some of his old hits, and his relevance continues to be felt. His most popular songs were "Love Adure" and "Sawale". The single "Sawale" was a hit all over Africa and has been remixed in various Africa countries like Ethiopia.
His single "Sawale" was recently remixed by Flavour N'abania to make the popular hit song, "Nwa Baby (Ashawo)"


Background

Death
Discography
Albums
Contributing artist

Musical Legacy

Biography[edit]
Musical career
Musical style
Early life
Family
Discography

Celestine Ukwu


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Celestine Obiakor, 1940, Efik, Nigeria, d. 1979, Onitsha, Nigeria. Guitarist and vocalist Ukwu was on the verge of national breakthrough (with his band the Music Royals) when the Nigerian civil war brought touring and recording to a virtual standstill. He re-emerged in 1970 with Philospher’s Stone, playing a relaxed and sensuous form of highlife which, incongruously but effectively, used pedal steel guitar in its arrangements (a novelty later adopted by fellow Nigerian and juju star King Sunny Ade). His biggest hit was the single ‘Money Palaver’ in 1976, from Igede Fantasia. Ukwu’s untimely death later that year ensured that his potential was never fully realized.

Chief Osita Osadebe

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Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe (March, 1936 — May 11, 2007),[1] often referred to as just Osadebe, was an Igbo Nigerian highlife musician from Atani. His career spanned over 40 years, and he is one of the best known Igbo highlife musicians. His most popular hit was the 1984 "Osondi Owendi" (Igbo: One man's meat is another man's poison.), establishing him as a leader in the highlife genre being the most popular record ever in Nigeria.

In March 1936, Osadebe was born in Igbo town of Atani, in Southeastern Nigeria. He came from a line of singers and dancers inIgboland. His genre, Highlife encompassed Igbo musical elements. Along with this, calypso, samba, bolero, rumba, jazz and waltz were also present in Osadebe's musical style. It was in his high school years in Onitsha, a major commercial city near Atani, that Osadebe grew interested in music.

Osadebe started his career performing at nightclubs in Lagos in the southwestern region of Nigeria. He gradually worked his way up to releasing his first album in 1958. In his career Osadebe went on to write over 500 songs; half of these songs were released commercially. He had been a part of The Empire Rhythm Orchestra, led by E. C. Arinze in which he had learned much of his music skills.

As he became better established, Osadebe's style matured to include social commentary, similar to, but not as confrontational asFela Kuti. Personal trials and tribulations was usually the main topic of his commentaries. Osadebe often extended his tracks for his audiences enjoyment, allowing room for 'people on the dance floor' to indulge in the songs.

Following the Nigerian Civil War in the late 60's, the massive exodus of the eastern peoples of Nigeria (especially the Igbo) out of western Nigeria had caused the death of the Highlife's prominence in the then capital, Lagos. During the war and after the war Osadebe maintained his scheduled live performances. Jùjú music and later Afrobeat took precedence in Lagos, and in the 70's James Brown and various other music forms became popular in the city. In this same decade Osadebe's career had reached its zenith. After turning 50 in 1986, Osadebe started to give priority to fatherhood and gave more of his time to his son Obiora and his other children from his wives. One of Osita Osadebe's last revered album's is "Kedu America".

Osita Osadebe died in St. Mary's Hospital Waterbury, Connecticut on 11 May 2007 after suffering from severe respiratory difficulties

The Oriental Brothers
Christogonus Ezebuiro Obinna (1947, Imo State, Nigeria – 2 June 1999), the Ultimate Dr. Sir Warrior, was the leader of the Oriental Brothers International Band which was famous in the Nigerian Igbo highlife music scene for several decades. He performed primarily in Nigeria, as well as performing internationally in places such as London and the United States of America.

Dr. Sir Warrior was able to transform his performance into a successful career in the 1970s when he joined the Oriental Brothers International Band. The band later splintered, leading to Prince Ichita & the Great Oriental Brothers International Band, Oriental Brothers International, and then the original Dr. Sir Warrior & His Oriental Brothers International, simply called The Oriental Original. He had about 12 platinum and 10 gold hits in his career. His 1978 album Nwanne Awu Enyi went gold, selling more than 7.8 million copies.

The Oriental Brothers were composed primarily of Godwin Kabaaka Opara, Ferdinand Dansatch Emeka Opara, Nathaniel Ejiogu, Hybrilious Akwilla Alaraibe, Prince Ichita and Christogonus Ezebuiro "Warrior" Obinna. Ejiogu died shortly before the band's success. The first split within the group occurred in 1977 when founding members Dansatch Opara and Prince Ichita left to start their own bands under the Oriental Brothers moniker. The Opara brothers later joined The Oriental Original.

Though each of the groups had their distinct sound, they all shared a passion for blending Congolese guitar picking and traditional Igbo rhythms. According to the Igbo magazine Kwenu, "the Oriental Brothers played a very important spiritual role in keeping many Igbo sane. They were the pride of a people traumatized by a war so vicious."

Combining Igbo vocals with deft guitar work and a solid rhythm section, Warrior created a unique style of music that for many people is the definitive sound of highlife music. Warrior was one of the most influential musicians to come out of Igboland. He started playing the guitar in the 1960s.He always had a sense of revolution, as he created a brand of highlife that is Igbo at the core, and at the same time universal in taste. He introduced the Oyorima concept, which is an Igbo word that means a refined feeling of rhythmic movement and balance.

Dr. Sir Warrior was from Umuhu Enyiogugu in Aboh Mbaise local government area of Imo state Nigeria. His name, Obinna, means "Father's Heart" (God's Mind). Dr Sir Warrior began performing at the age of 11, when joined a men's choral group specialising in a music form known as Èsè. By 16, he had achieved fame for his voice and performance of Èsè music.[citation needed]
Dr Sir Warrior was married and had five children (3Boys & 2girls). His first son had said of him "He did not allow us to get interested in music. He wanted us to finish our education first. He would always emphasize that education was the best legacy, other things could follow later". The younger Ajuzieogu knew that he would one day be a highlife musician like his dad. They both said, "As long as we intend to pursue music as career we will still abide with our father's wish". Quickly after Warrior's exit, fellow highlife artists knew it would be long before another person of his quality emerges. His legacy was summarised by Oliver De Coque, who in paying tribute to Dr. Sir Warrior, said, "He was a very good and amiable person. We have lost such a genius in highlife."

Nice @op.
Nigerian music genre that nothing seems to av succeeded it. Instead all we get is pretentous music

shockwave91:
Nice @op.
Nigerian music genre that nothing seems to av succeeded it. Instead all we get is pretentous music

Abi o

shockwave91:
Nice @op.
Nigerian music genre that nothing seems to av succeeded it. Instead all we get is pretentous music

Music has changed course . We no longer hear inspirational music any longer

soldierdollar:


Music has changed course . We no longer hear inspirational music any longer

e ye ye ye!! Ó nó nó nó

Abeg op where can I download all these traditional songz pls? Ogonogo long john, bright chimezie, egwu owerri, egwu umuahia, pericomo okoye