Sonny Okosun
Sonny Okosun | |
---|---|
Also known as | Sunny Okosuns |
Born | Edo State, Nigeria | 1 January 1947
Died | 24 May 2008 Howard University Hospital, Washington DC | (aged 61)
Genres | Highlife, reggae, gospel music |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Electric guitar, flute, saxophone, electric piano, percussion, vocals |
Years active | 1960s–2000s |
Labels | Ozzidi sound |
Sonny Okosun (1 January 1947
Okosun's brand of
Early life
As a young boy, Okosun spent his early childhood with his grandmother at Ibore, near Irrua in Edo State, thereafter, he moved to Enugu to live with his parents and where his father worked with the Nigerian Railway Corporation.[4] Okosun attended various training schools starting with St Brigid's School, Asata, Enugu before enrolling at a government trade centre in Enugu. He left the training centre before completing his studies.[4] Excited by a career in entertainment, he traveled to Lagos to further his interest in acting. In Lagos, he took drama lessons at a drama school in Surulere but left after a few months returning to Enugu. In Enugu, Okosun found opportunity in small roles where he participated in a few dramatic productions; he also worked with a notable Enugu drama studies teacher, professor John Okwerri.[4] His participation in Okwerri's group and his determination to succeed in entertainment led him to be featured in some radio and TV skits with the Eastern Nigeria Television Station.[citation needed]
Career
1960s: Early years
Okwerri was a member of the
In 1966, he joined the band
At the onset of the civil war, Okosun and his family who were from the Mid-West and not from Eastern Nigeria had to flee the region and move to Lagos. In Lagos, he worked as a stagehand for a television station and jammed with a number of groups. In 1969, he found steady work as a second guitarist in Victor Uwaifo's Maestros. Uwaifo, still riding on his hit, "Joromi", took his band to a tour in Japan and Europe.[7] While, he was with Uwaifo, he honed his skills in musical composition by experimenting with a fusion of African and rock rhythms.[6]
1970s: Ozzidi sound
From 1972 to 1974, he led a band that was originally called Paperback Limited but later regrouped as Ozzidi.
He had his first break with the single "Help", which sold close to a hundred thousand copies in Nigeria.[7] The lineup of the Ozzidi band was headed by Okosun as lead vocalist, supported by three backup dancers, a trombone player, keyboardist, bass and trap drums.
Towards the late 1970s, Okosun began to release a string of reggae infused Afro-pop music.[9] His 1977 song "Fire in Soweto" became a major international hit[8] and his first gold album.[4] He was featured on the anti-apartheid album Sun City, and his song "Highlife" was on the soundtrack of the 1986 film Something Wild.[3] He released another LP album, Power to the People, followed with a tour in some Nigerian cities.[10]
1980s
He released his first American album in 1984 under Shanachie Records.[11] His next American record, Which Way Nigeria, was released in 1985 under the EMI label in Nigeria and licensed to Jive Records for international promotions.[12]
His mainstream success started to fade in the late 1980s, but he continued his career as a gospel musician under the name Evangelist Sonny Okosun.[8]
1990s
By 1993, Okosun had started moving towards
Later life
Okosun died aged 61 of
His musical styles included
Discography
- Ozzidi (1976)[17]
- Ozzidi For Sale (1976)[18]
- Living Music (NCC, 1977)
- Papa's Land (NCC, 1977)[19]
- Fire in Soweto (OTI, 1978)[20]
- Holy Wars (NEMI, 1978)
- 3rd World (NEMI, 1981)
- Mother And Child (OTI, 1982)[21]
- Which Way Nigeria? (Jive Afrika, 1983)
- Liberation (Shanachie, 1984)
- Revolution II (HMV, 1985)
- Africa Now Or Never (HMV, 1986)[21]
- Ozzidi/Ozone (1989)[citation needed]
- African Soldier (Profile, 1991)
References
- ISBN 978-978-8422-08-2.
- ^ "Remembering Sunny Okosun, the Ozziddi exponent". Vanguard News. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ a b The Independent, 24 June 2008: Sonny Okosun obituary.
- ^ a b c d e f g Timothy, Asobele (2002). Historical Trends of Nigerian Indigenous and Contemporary Music. Lagos: Rothmed International. pp. 25–27.
- ^ a b Collins 2002, p. 135.
- ^ a b c Onwuegbuna, Ikenna (2015). Trends in African Popular Music: Socio-cultural Interactions and the Reggae Genre in Nigeria. Xlibris. p. Chapter 5.
- ^ a b Collins 2002, p. 137.
- ^ a b c d e Discography of Sonny Okosun Archived 19 December 2012 at archive.today
- ^ a b Collins 2002, p. 134.
- ^ Olumuyiwa, Okuseinde (December 2011). "Music Artistes and their Contribution to the Idea of Development in Africa, 1974–1987". Thought and Practice. 3 (2): 49–73.
- ^ Pareles, J. (13 May 1984). "WITH THE TRADITIONAL AND THE EXOTIC, AFRICA INVIGORATES POP". The New York Times.
- ^ Music-records: Okosun blasts jive diskery for alleged South African ties (4 September 1985). Variety (Archive: 1905–2000), 320, 79.
- ^ "Why I'm writing biography to honour Sunny Okosun— Charles, brother". Punch Newspapers. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ World Music Central, 28 May 2008 Archived 15 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Music Icon, Sonny Okosun, Dies At 61", Leadership, 26 May 2008.
- ^ "Okosuns, Sonny | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ "Ozzidi Song… Eight years after Sonny Okosuns' exit". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ "Sonny Okosun: a Pan-African Reggae Maestro". African And Black History. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ "Remembering our musical icons: What would have become of them today!". Vanguard News. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ "Fire in Soweto!". Vanguard News. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Okosuns, Sonny | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
Sources
- Collins, J. (1992). West African Pop Roots. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.