Sunday Adeniyi aka King Sunny Ade....MEET HIM.

 

“King” Sunny Adé (born Sunday Adeniyi, September 22, 1946) is a popular performer of Yoruba Nigerian jùjú music and a pioneer of modern world music. He has been classed as one of the most influential musicians of all time.
Background
Adé was born to a Nigerian royal family in Ondo, thus making him an Omoba of the Yoruba people. His father was a church organist, while his mother was a trader. Adé left grammar school in Ondo under the pretense of going to the University of Lagos. There, in Lagos, his mercurial musical career started.
Sunny Adé’s musical sound has evolved from the early days. His career began with Moses Olaiya’s Federal Rhythm Dandies, a highlife band. He left to form a new band, The Green Spots, in 1967. Over the years, for various reasons ranging from changes in his music to business concerns, Sunny Adé’s band changed its name several times, first to African Beats and then to Golden Mercury.
Stage performances
In the 1970s and 1980s Adé embarked on a tour of America and Europe where he played to mixed (both black and white) audiences. His stage act was characterised by dexterous dancing steps and mastery of the guitar. Trey Anastasio, American guitarist, composer and one of his devout followers, once said, “If you come to see Sunny Adé live, you must be prepared to groove all night.”[citation needed]
After more than a decade of resounding success in Africa, Adé was received to great acclaim in Europe and North America in 1982.The global release of Juju Music and its accompanying tour was “almost unanimously embraced by critics (if not consumers) everywhere”. Adé was described by ’The New York Times’ as “one of the world’s great band leaders”,and in Trouser Press as “one of the most captivating and important musical artists anywhere in the world”
His next album, Syncro System (1983), was equally successful and earned him his first Grammy Award nomination in the folk/ethnic music category.
A fusion of sounds
Sunny Adé’s music is characterised by, among other instruments, the talking drum – an instrument indigenous to his Yoruba roots, the guitar and his peculiar application to jùjú music, that would easily put him in the same class as guitar musicians like Santana. His music is in the age-old tradition of singing poetic lyrics (“ewi” in Yoruba) and praise of dignitaries as well components of Juju (traditional African belief) called the Ogede (casting a spell). Hence, Adé’s music constitutes a record of the oral tradition of his people for posterity.
Sunny Adé was the first to introduce the pedal steel guitar to Nigerian pop music. He was the first to introduce the use of synthesizers, clavinet, vibraphone, tenor guitar into the jùjú music repertoire such as dub and wah-wah guitar licks.
Island Records
After the death of Bob Marley, Island Records began looking for another third world artist to put on its contract, while Fela Kuti had just been signed by Arista Records. Producer Martin Meissonnier introduced King Sunny Adé to Chris Blackwell, leading to the release of Juju Music in 1982. **Note: Robert Palmer claims to have brought King Sunny Adé to Island’s attention, his familiarity being from his life on Malta in the 60s listening to African Radio and Arm Forces Radio. Many music aficionados are quick to point out that Sunny Adé’s brand of music Juju could not be ignored. Today, this seminal recording is often acclaimed as one of the most important records from Africa. Adé gained a wide following with this album and was soon billed as “the African Bob Marley”.
Sunny Adé has said in the past that his refusal to allow Island to meddle with his compositions and over-Europeanise and Americanise his music were the reasons why Island then decided to look elsewhere.
Collaborations
Sunny has collaborated with major artists such as Manu Dibango (Wakafrika) and Stevie Wonder (played harmonica in Aura).
Sunny Adé’s brief recordings with Island Records opened the floodgates for other world music artists like Senegalese Youssou N’Dour, Mali’s Salif Keita and many others.
Grammy Awards
1987 comeback
In 1987, Sunny Adé returned to the international spotlight when Rykodisc released a live concert he did in Seattle and was given an astonishing embrace by fans across the globe who were eager for another international album release.
He soon employed an American manager, Andrew Frankel, negotiated another three album record deal with the Mesa record label (a Division of Paradise Group) in America. One of these albums was 1998s Odu, a collection of traditional Yoruba songs, for which he was nominated for the second Grammy Award and thus making him the first African to be nominated twice for a Grammy. Apart from being an international musician Sunny Adé is also prominent in his native Nigeria, running multiple companies in several industries, creating a non-profit organization called the King Sunny Adé Foundation, and working with the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria.
In recent times, hip hop music appears to be holding sway with the electronic media in Nigeria with massive airplays. Nonetheless, Sunny Adé’s musical output has continued to inspire a vast generation of other Nigerian musicians, who believe in the big band musical set up which Sunny Adé and late Fela Kuti are noted for. The musician, Lagbaja is one of the very many musicians Sunny Adé’s music has inspired. In 2008, his contributions to world music was recognised; as he was given an award for his outstanding contribution to world music at the Reggae and world music awards held at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.
Hollywood career
In the 1980s Adé embarked on a career in Hollywood. His music was featured in the 1983 film Breathless, starring Richard Gere, and the 1986 comedy One More Saturday Night, and he acted in Robert Altman’s 1987 comedy O.C. and Stiggs.
2009 comeback
At the beginning of another round of tour of the United States and Canada, Sunny Adé, now known as The Chairman in his home country, was appointed a visiting professor of music at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. In July the same year King Sunny Adé was inducted into the Afropop Hall of Fame, at the Brooklyn African Festival in the United States. He dedicated the award to the recently deceased Michael Jackson.
Filmography
Film Role Year
Breathless King Sunny Adé (Music) 1983
One More Saturday Night King Sunny Adé (Music) 1986
O.C. and Stiggs King Sunny Adé (Music & appearance) 1987

Photos:

Discography

The Good Sherperd King Sunny Ade 1988

Number	Title	Record Company	Song writer	Year
1	Yekinni Akande b/w Col. Adéyinka Adébayo	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1967
2	Ewo Ijamba Motto	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1967
3	Omo Oba Sijuwade	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1967
4	Layiwola Folashade	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1967
5	Qlalekan Salami b/w Challenge Cup ’67	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1968
6	“Mini-Woho”	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1968
7	Awa Arawa	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1968
8	An W’oba	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1968
9	Ally Mekudi	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1968
10	Col. Benjamin Adékunle	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1968
11	Alujonu Onigita	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1968
12	Ibilekeleke	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1970
13	Eda nreti Eleya	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1970
14	Oluku	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1970
15	Egbe Igbimo b/w Sewele	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1970
16	Mo gbinla mi soko	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1970
17	Mo gbinla mi soko	African Songs		1970
18	Ibi Ise bari	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1970
19	Alanu L’Oluwa*	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1970
20	London Special – London La Wa	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1970
21	Soyoyo	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
22	Ajo jobiile	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
23	Igbalaye	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
24	Ija Pari	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
25	Akanji Adé Fowope	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
26	New Sound of Sunny Adé	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
27	Olowo (part 1) b/w Olowo (part 2)	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
28	Tony Clarke	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
29	Awa Arawa	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
30	Ibilekeleke	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
31	Mo gbinla mi soko	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
32	Egbe Awawa	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
33	Nkuruma/Nibi Taiye Bayi Si	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
34	Sunny Ti De/A Kunle A Tewo Adura	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
35	In The Heart of Great Britain/Ile Labo Sinmi Oko/Sehindemi	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
36	Ogun (By Popular Request/Chief Bolarinwa Abioro )	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
37	Mr. Adénaike (Ololu)/Prince Adésanya	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
38	Late Dr. Nkrumah/Sunny Special	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
39	Ogun (in full)/ Our New Sound	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
40	Late Pa Yohanna Gowon/Asalamu-Alaikun	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
41	Sunny Ti De / Kolawole Bockersteth	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
42	Afai Bawon Ja/Omo Wumi	African Songs		Unknown
43	Ogidan Ko Ni Se Barber/ Ibanuje Mo Niwon/ Ariya Odun Kewa	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
44	Sunny Tide / Oro T’Onlo	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
45	Syncro System Movement	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	Unknown
46	E Kilo F’Omo Ode/ Esubiri Ebo Mi	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1974
47	Mo Ti Mo/ Kileni Ase	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1975
48	Late Gen Murtala Mohammed	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1976
49	Live Play	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1976
50	Syncro System	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1977
51	Emi Agbadura	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1977
52	Sound Vibration/ Kiti-Kiti	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1977
53	Araiye E Dakun	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1978
54	365 Is My Number	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1978
55	FESTAC 77	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1978
56	Isu Joba Lori Iyan	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1978
57	The Royal Sound/Ariya Is Unlimited	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1979
58	I’m Searching for My Love	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1979
59	Ori Mi Ja Fun Mi	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1970
60	Eje Nlogba	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1980
61	Osupa Mi Tole	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1981
62	The Message/ Ma J’Aiye Oni	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1981
63	Check E/ Ki Isu To Diyan	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1981
64	Ariya Special/ A Gbe Kini Ohun De	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1981
65	Ja Funmi[2]	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1981
66	The Message	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1982
67	Maa Jo	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Ad]	1982
68	Ijinle Odu	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1982
69	Ja Funmi	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1982
70	Live At Montreux	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1982
71	Juju Music	Mango	King Sunny Adé	1982
77	Ajoo	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1983
78	Synchro Feelings	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1983
79	Bobby	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1983
80	Synchro Series	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1983
81	Consience	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1983
82	Ase/ Ogunja	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1983
83	Explosion	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1984
84	Togetherness	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1984
85	Aura	Island Records	King Sunny Adé	1984
86	Ase	Island Records	King Sunny Adé	1984
87	Gratitude	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1985
88	The Truth	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1985
89	Saviour	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1985
90	Sweet Banana	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1986
91	My Dear	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1986
92	Saviour	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1985
93	Let Them Say	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1986
94	Jealousy	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1987
95	Merciful God	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1987
96	The Return of the Juju King	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1987
97	The Child	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1988
98	Destiny	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1988
99	Live Live Juju	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé & His African Beats	1988
100	Sunny Adé Ti E Nreti	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1989
101	Authority	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1990
102	Get Up	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1990
103	Return Of The Juju King Volume 2	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1990
104	Triumph	Broadway	King Sunny Adé	1992
105	Surprise	Sigma Park	King Sunny Adé	1992
106	Glory	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1993
107	King Sunny Adé & The New African Beats	Hemisphere/IRS	King Sunny Adé	1994
108	The Way Forward	Sigma Park	King Sunny Adé	1994
109	E Dide/Get Up	MESA	King Sunny Adé	1995
110	E Dide/Get Up	Master Disc	King Sunny Adé	1995
111	My Dream	Sigma Disk	King Sunny Adé	1996
112	The Golden Age	Sigma Disk	King Sunny Adé	1997
113	Ogun	Aladdin	King Sunny Adé	1997
114	Odu[3]	Mesa/Atlantic Records	King Sunny Adé	1998
115	His Evergreen Hits	African Songs	King Sunny Adé	1998
116	Fantasia ’98 World Tour	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1999
117	Ariya Is Unlimited	Sigma Park	King Sunny Adé	1982
118	Live At The Hollywood Palace	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	1999
119	Kool Samba	Master Disk	King Sunny Adé	1999
120	Seven Degrees North	Sunny Alade	King Sunny Adé	2000
121	Owanbe/ 0805 Is My Number	Fortune Records	King Sunny Adé	2003
122	Juju-Apala Live	Fortune Records	King Sunny Adé	2000
123	Divine Shield	Master DIsk	King Sunny Adé	2004