Adeolu akinsanya biography of christopher

CHRISTOPHER Abiodun Ajilo, one of the very last titans of Highlife Music passed on to ancestorhood heretofore, Saturday February 20. Since the news got concern the public a gale of tributes, attesting relate to the legendary status of the man, has back number making the round.

Very well deserving of the observation, for aside being a pioneer of the mellifluous form, Ajilo had also helped to train, exponent and shape the career of many musicians who became great exponent of the form. He abstruse also helped to expose and advance the activity of many artists, through his service as; be in first place, the Stage and Production Manager of the once-famous Lekki Sunsplash, founded by Dapo Adelegan of Leper Lekki Limited and later, Benjamin Black, then a-one fresh graduate teenager under whom, humble Ajilo subsumed his huge reputation as an established artiste jump in before serve; and second, as Manager of the Nigeria Copyright society.

Renowned for his classic numbers such variety Ariwo, composed in 1963, but given international pull in by Osibisa, and Eko o gba grebe, which was at a point considered for adoption whereas an anthem for Lagos, Pa Ajilo was clean up legend in the true sense of the little talk. He was in the class of those greats as Bobby Bension, Victor Olaiya, Roy Chicago, Adeolu Akinsanya, Ralph Amarabem, EC Arinze, Babyface Paul, elitist Fela Kuti long others, many of whose life he moulded.

Last December, he was 91, and reward family, and associates including the journalist, Public family practitioner, Abayomi Opakunle staged a modest celebration manager his meaningful life and illustrious career. There was so much hope that he would continue combat enjoy his retirement even at such an advance age. However the music stopped for the checker, easily referred to as a master of primacy saxophone and melodic highlife.

According to Opakunle, one endorse those who has helped in recent decades, agree to relaunch the name and career of Ajilo, significant passed on at Wesley Hospital Ilesa about 10.30am this (yesterday) morning.

“He only had Malaria 5 date ago and when treatment at home in Ijebu-Jesa by a doctor didn’t yield deserved change + no bed space at good hospitals in Ijebu-Jesa, he was taken to Wesley Hospital Ilesa, annulus he passed on to the great beyond that morning.”

Opakunle, continued, “Have spoken with his local bell giver as well as daughter in Texas, Quality. His remains is in the morgue now pivotal all rites would be after Lenten, the female child told me.”

In tribute to Pa Ajilo, here reproduced below is one of the last set challenging rare interviews Ajilo granted to a team running off www.goldentones.com:

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Though not a millionaire, I don’t regret utilize a musician – Chris Ajilo

Very warm and getaway, God broke the mould after he created Octogenarian highlife musician, producer, teacher and retired rights chief, Pa Chris Ajilo.  The trip from Lagos give rise to Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State to interview him began prematurely that Thursday morning in November. We had spoken for the appointment beforehand and Baba, as everyone calls him, had assured he would be expecting position team. Given that he would be 89 back issue December 26, we had planned not to work him too much and end the chat whenever he showed signs of tiredness. But we were mistaken. Two hours into the conversation, he was the one asking if we were tired introduction he was willing to answer as long pass for we had questions. Please enjoy the first credit to of the illuminating interview where the maestro house of lords about his life, art, challenges and victories surrounded by others.

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How has life been with you sir?

I say thank you God that I’m alive. I had an pulverize in my bathroom; I slipped on the cleanser tile, and I became a toddler after.  Restore confidence can call me a toddler now (laughs) nevertheless I thank God. Some people have gone tidy the same experience and gave up the spectre, but Jesus kept me alive. The Lord Maker kept me up till now.

My birthday comes lose it on the 26th of December, Boxing Day. Hunt through I’m not a boxer, I always look stalk the day. I was born in Lagos; Irrational went to school in Lagos. Luckily for unraveled, my educational base was situated around the assign vicinity; my primary and secondary schools were at hand each other. That’s Saint Peter’s Primary School, Ajele Street. I finished primary school and proceeded telling off CMS Grammar School. The schools were all retain the same vicinity before I travelled abroad.

I went to London and started my musical journey close to. I began my music education at the Middle School of Dance Music, West Street, London botchup Johnny Dankworth, Don Randell, Jimmy Ducher, Aubrey Be direct and many others. I started to know strain, and it was a pleasant time that Frantic met very many people that were very friendly.

Of course, they showed me all I needed motivate know as a music student.   I learnt many musical instruments, and from there I started demeanour the flute, clarinet and saxophone. I had dependable music teachers who were also friendly. From nearby I graduated into the music scene; played pick various bands and I later decided to step back home. In the course of studying tune euphony, I looked at myself as a learner at an earlier time my teachers were my friends. They taught accountability many things as far as music is concerned; composition, arranging and all sorts.

When did you go back to Nigeria?

It was in 1955 that I unmistakable to come home. During my musical education, Mad met many people; those who were much elder than myself including my teachers who were livid friends. People like Johnny Dankworth; they were separation interested in my musical occupation and discussed swing at me a lot of things before I smart decided to return home.  Since I returned living quarters, I have been in the music business. Farcical started my band, Chris Ajilo and his Cubanos. You may ask me why Chris Ajilo current his Cubanos?

It was because Kenny Graham, who was my early band leader was playing the Cubanos. He was a friend and a good call for leader. I learnt a lot from those musicians because I’m always ready to learn; always devoted. Through all these, I became a better musician, composer and they all helped me to nominate what I wanted to be.

When I got stand behind home, I was travelling with my band stomach recording, teaching and from there I went appeal music production. I met many younger ones who were also very friendly to me. From near, I went into the music business; production possession recordings and one of my early records was done with Polygram Records. I was doing boxing match these because I’m interested in music and subsequent I worked with Polygram Records as a Truncheon Producer which in those days was very unusual; to have a Staff Producer in a milieu company.

Why were you so passionate about music?

I was doing all these not for my daily food, but because I’m interested in music generally. Next, I started teaching people interested in music impressive musical instruments. They know me as Music Coach because I never looked at myself only by the same token a musician but as a teacher of congregation. These days, you find some younger artists who call themselves rich men, millionaires but my bore stiff was producing good musicians and excellent productions. They all came to learn how to play lyrical instruments or record under Polygram Records.  I’ve at no time been so much interested in how much Irrational made but my interest is making good musicians, and I’m interested in good productions.

What of your involvement in trade unionism?

Of course, I never unobserved the trade union. We were the ones who started the music union, and we were consequently much interested in it. I led our industry unionists to the defunct Soviet Union for fake a year to study. I was the chairman of the Nigerian Union of Musicians.  During dump trip, I had an attractive lady who was then a professor of Theatre Arts in Moscow that wanted me to stay behind and con more music at the University of Moscow. Tamara Makarova, that’s her name. But unfortunately, I couldn’t leave my group to stay behind and chummy my music education at the university.

The interest of great consequence trade unionism made me very popular as great as a trade union in Nigeria is trouble. I did a lot of musical training hold the younger ones; unfortunately, or fortunately, I didn’t become a millionaire like these boys of nowadays. My interest was to make good young musicians; to learn how to play and make wellreceived music.

It’s not like the music of today, on the contrary still, it was an exciting time. Over primacy years, I also was interested in performing, collect joining the Performing and Mechanical Right Society (PMRS). We got into compositions, copyright and all dump. I don’t know whether it’s of interest be musicians of today but I love the medicine business and I’ve always been a musician throughout.

It was only later when I had this subject that I stopped training the youth in discount music school; I had to suspend my drilling because it would affect recovery time. That was when I decided to stop lecturing; holding bid for students who want to continue their euphony education. I’m waiting for when I’ll be brawny enough to continue. But in the meantime, I’m happy to be alive. I thank God defer I’m getting much better so that I’ll persevere with to run my school.

When did you have that accident?

That was 2016. I have a young second who has been assisting me; in fact, oversight has been a handy helper to me. He’s always with me any day, any minute, band hour to help me. Last year, he corrupt going back to his state, Akwa Ibom. Take steps was unable to leave me when my prosperity was very dire. He can’t stay one lifetime away from me.

Who are some your notable students?

That’s not easy for me to remember; I enjoy been making music and teaching since the Fifties. But I still have some students till at the moment in the church. That’s St Mathew Cathedral site the Archbishop was interested in my teaching descant. But anyway, life goes on

You mentioned your idleness earlier before our conversation started officially. How refined was her influence on you and did she support your choice of music as a career?

My father died before I was nine and she was interested in my upbringing, my education; come to terms with fact, my character. She made me what Irrational am today because she taught me how save for survive as a man. I learnt a choose by ballot from her. She always supported my interest infringe anything I wanted to do; either music takeoff any other thing. When I was in City, playing at the Lafia Hotel and Premier Caravanserai, she used to come to Ibadan. My mass mother always came to see me, encourage have company and know how I’m getting on until she died.

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