Orlando Julius, itinerary of a Nigerian pioneer of Afro-soul
Nigerian Orlando Julius, and his wife, dancer Latoya Aduke Ekemode, in concert in New York, September 25, 2015. © Getty Images/Jack Vartoogian
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Nigerian saxophonist Orlando Julius passed away on April 14.
He was 79 years old.
Composer, saxophonist and singer, Orlando Julius contributed to the rise of Afro-beat in the 1960s and spent his career mixing musical influences from Africa and the United States, where he emigrated.
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Raised in
Highlife
, follower of Afro-beat and pioneer of Afro-soul... Orlando Julius' discography is a great mix of styles and rhythms.
Born in 1943 in Ikole, Ekiti State, in southwestern Nigeria, Orlando discovered music in the orchestra of his Anglican school.
At 14, he left for Ibadan, where he met Jazz Romero, a great Highlife musician.
This is where he learned his trade: drums, flute, clarinet, Orlando Julius plays everything until he concentrates on his famous alto saxophone.
In Nigeria, he meets the greatest like James Brown, and trains the greatest like Fela Kuti.
Then in 1973, Orlando Julius left for the United States, first to Washington and then to Oakland on the West Coast.
He meets Miles Davis, Nina Simon, collaborates with big names like Lamont Dozier, but will not be credited for his work.
Orlando Julius fell into oblivion until these hits were unearthed in the early 2000s by two French DJs from the Hot Casa records label.
The success will be fast: reissue of his hits and new album with the British group The Heliocentrics.
And it is at more than 70 years that Orlando Julius will fill the biggest rooms of Europe.
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