Who is King Sunny Ade?
Born September 22, 1946, he is a popular performer of Yoruba Nigerian Jùjú music. With his band, "King Sunny Adé and His African Beats", King Sunny Adé became an international star across Africa during the mid-1980s, touring and gaining a significant audience in the United States and Europe as well. He is known as the Minister of Enjoyment.
Adé was the first to introduce the pedal steel guitar to Nigerian pop music after becoming a fan of American country-western music. He was also the first to introduce the use of synthesizers, clavinet, vibraphone, tenor guitar and some highly sophisticated recording technology into the juju music repertoire. He is also well-known for his dexterous stage art, dance steps and mastery of the strings.
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 inspired a vast generation of musician's in Nigeria who believe in the big band musical set up which Sunny Adé and late Fela Kuti are noted for. The masked musician, Lagbaja is one of the very many musicians Sunny Adé's music has inspired. Still today, Sunny Adé's massive backlog of his Nigerian releases which dates back to the 60's and 70's are now regularly re-issued by some independent record labels in America. In the social circles in Nigeria, his music is readily sought after by the rich and famous. At 62, Sunny Adé's stage presence and level of musicianship is still glorious to behold. No wonder Trey Anastasio, one of his devout followers once said, "If you must come to see Sunny Adé live, you must be prepared to groove all night".
As a testimony to Sunny Adé's creative output, in December 2007 he released a new album Grace of God.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Birth Name:   Sunday Adeniyi

Born:              September 22, 1946 (age 61)

Origin:            Ondo, Nigeria

Genre(s):       Jùjú

Congratulations KSA.