By Oluwaseun Sonde
Federal Government of Nigeria has said that the death of the late highlife musician, Julius Aremu Olusanya Ekemode, popularly known as Orlando Julius, robs music industry of another trailblazing legend and the nation of another giant star.
In a statement released by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Friday, while consoled deceased family, friends and fans, described Orlando Julius as an all-rounder in his field.
The Minister noted that the highlife icon made his mark as a singer, song writer, saxophonist and performer.
''Despite a larger than life image, he remained a decent gentleman and
a good family man. His passion for music was unparalleled, hence he
excelled in his chosen field.
"By dint of hard work, he and others like him laid the foundation and
helped to nurture Afrobeat to global prominence,'' Alhaji Mohammed said.
Adding: ''It was therefore most fitting that he lived long enough to witness
the moment in which Nigerian music has taken the world by storm.''
The Minister urged the family of the late music legend to take solace in the good and remarkable life of their patriarch, and prayed for repose to the soul of the departed.
Meanwhile, the veteran highlife musician, Orlando Julius died at the age of 79, while his death was announced in the early hours of Friday by his wife, Latoya Ekemode.
Latoya said that Julius passed out in his sleep on Thursday night. “Yes, my husband passed on late last night, there was no indication that death was coming, he was not ill, he only slept and died in his sleep,” she said
Orlando Julius was a saxophonist, singer and bandleader. A native of Ijebu Ijesha, his musical career took flight in the 60s when Eddie Okonta invited him to join his band. Before then, he had been tutored by Highlife musician Jazz Romero.
With Okonta’s band, Julius performed in many gigs and opened for the American trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong.
In subsequent years, he would play with other bands, including Hugh Masakela and opened for other high profile international acts. Julius also opened for the iconic American musician James Brown.
He released his first hit ‘Jagua Nana’ in 1965 and went on to tour West Africa. Julius formed the Ashiko movement and taught people his style of music although he did not stay in this position for long.
After spending some time in the United States, he returned to Nigeria in 1984. He quickly began recording tracks for the album Dance Afro-Beat, leading him to put together the 18-person Nigerian All-Stars band.
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