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Nigerian Music Legend, King Sunny Ade turns 70 today. Regarded as one of the most influential music artistes of all time, here is a list of some things you should know about him.
1. Birth-named Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, King Sunny Ade was born September 22, 1946 into a a royal house. His father was a church minister and organist, while his mother was a trader.
2. He is not only reverred as a musical king but also eligible as a Prince to ascend the throne of the Ondo kingdom.
3. He left his home in Ondo for Lagos to pursue his chosen career under the guise of attending the University of Lagos.
4. His first experience as an entertainer was with Baba Sala‘s Federal Rhythm Dandies.s
Island Records signed KSA in the early 80s following the death of Bob Marley and intended making him the next global star but the contract was short lived as he refused to ‘Europeanise his music’ as requested by the label. KSA released 3 albums (Juju Music-82, Synchro System-83 and Aura-84) under Island Records.
5. He is the first Nigerian musician, and African to be nominated for Grammy Awards twice.
6. New York Times described King Sunny Ade as one of the world's great band leaders in Record as a breath of fresh air, a positive vibration we will feel for some time to come and in Trouser Press as one of the most captivating and important musical artists anywhere in the world
7. One of Sunny Ade’s wives, Ajoke Adeniyi Adegeye was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2007 to 2011.
8. Apart from being an international musician Sunny Adé is also prominent in Nigeria, running multiple companies in several industries, creating a non-profit organisation called the King Sunny Adé Foundation, and working with the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria.
9. King Sunny Ade made a cameo appearance in the 1983 Hollywood movie,’ Breathless’ which stars Richard Gere.
10. KSA is one of the first African musicians to collaborate with American acts. In 1984, he featured Stevie Wonder on his album, Aura.
1. Birth-named Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, King Sunny Ade was born September 22, 1946 into a a royal house. His father was a church minister and organist, while his mother was a trader.
2. He is not only reverred as a musical king but also eligible as a Prince to ascend the throne of the Ondo kingdom.
3. He left his home in Ondo for Lagos to pursue his chosen career under the guise of attending the University of Lagos.
4. His first experience as an entertainer was with Baba Sala‘s Federal Rhythm Dandies.s
Island Records signed KSA in the early 80s following the death of Bob Marley and intended making him the next global star but the contract was short lived as he refused to ‘Europeanise his music’ as requested by the label. KSA released 3 albums (Juju Music-82, Synchro System-83 and Aura-84) under Island Records.
5. He is the first Nigerian musician, and African to be nominated for Grammy Awards twice.
6. New York Times described King Sunny Ade as one of the world's great band leaders in Record as a breath of fresh air, a positive vibration we will feel for some time to come and in Trouser Press as one of the most captivating and important musical artists anywhere in the world
7. One of Sunny Ade’s wives, Ajoke Adeniyi Adegeye was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2007 to 2011.
8. Apart from being an international musician Sunny Adé is also prominent in Nigeria, running multiple companies in several industries, creating a non-profit organisation called the King Sunny Adé Foundation, and working with the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria.
9. King Sunny Ade made a cameo appearance in the 1983 Hollywood movie,’ Breathless’ which stars Richard Gere.
10. KSA is one of the first African musicians to collaborate with American acts. In 1984, he featured Stevie Wonder on his album, Aura.
