Veteran Saxophonist, Orlando Julius, dies at 79

Popular Nigerian Saxophonist, Orlando Julius, has died at the age of 79.

The wife of the veteran Saxophonist, Latoya Ekemode, confirmed his death on Friday.

She disclosed that Orlando 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, band leader, and songwriter closely associated with afrobeat music.

Some of his musical albums were: Disco Hi-Life, Ololufe, Love, Peace and Happiness; Dance Afrobeat, among others.

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Orlando Julius was born in 1943 in Ikole, Ekiti State to a merchant family during British colonialism. His first musical teacher was his mother, who would sing and dance while he played drums.

He went to St. Peter’s Anglican School in Ikole and played in the school band.

In 1957, after dropping out of school and the death of his father, Julius left for Ibadan to pursue a career as a musician.

He worked at a bakery while playing the drums or flute with juju and konkoma bands. There was no music school in the area at the time, so the premier, Obafemi Awolowo, created one in his political party’s secretariat.

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Segun Ojo

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