Orlando Julius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orlando Julius
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Julius playing in Montreal in 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Orlando Julius Aremu Olusanya Ekemode |
| Born | 22 September 1943 Ikole, Nigeria |
| Died | 14 April 2022 (aged 78) |
| Genres | Afrobeat, Afro-soul, highlife |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone, drums |
| Years active | 1960s–2022 |
Orlando Julius Aremu Olusanya Ekemode, known as Orlando Julius, was a famous Nigerian musician. He was born on September 22, 1943, and passed away on April 14, 2022. Orlando Julius was a talented saxophonist, singer, and songwriter. He was a key figure in creating and popularizing afrobeat music.
Orlando Julius started his music journey playing drums and flute in local bands. He later learned to play the saxophone, which became his main instrument. He loved mixing traditional African sounds with American music styles like R&B and soul. This unique blend helped create what we now call afrobeat. His early hits included "Jagua Nana" in 1965 and the album Super Afro Soul in 1966. In the 1970s, he moved to the United States and worked with other famous musicians. Later, his older music was re-released, which led to him touring the world and even having an album on the Billboard World Albums chart.
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Orlando Julius was born in 1943 in a town called Ikole, in Nigeria. At that time, Nigeria was under British rule. His family were merchants, and his first music teacher was his mother. She would sing and dance while he played the drums. He went to St. Peter's Anglican School and played in the school band.
In 1957, after his father passed away, he left school and moved to Ibadan. He wanted to become a professional musician. He worked at a bakery while playing drums and flute with local bands. Since there were no music schools, he tried to learn from other musicians. He helped out highlife musician Jazz Romero, hoping to get music lessons. Romero eventually invited him to play with his band, and that's when Orlando Julius learned his first chords on the saxophone. Soon after, he joined Rex Williams' highlife band. He learned by listening to as much music as he could, especially highlife music from Ghana.
A Career in Music
In 1960, a popular musician named Eddie Okonta asked Orlando Julius to join his band. They recorded many songs and performed at many shows. They even opened a concert for the famous American jazz musician Louis Armstrong. Orlando Julius recorded his first single, "Igbehin Adara," that same year.
However, Orlando Julius wanted to create his own unique sound. He wanted to mix traditional African music with horns and guitar, and add styles like American pop, R&B, and soul. In the early 1960s, he formed his own band called Modern Aces. They played regularly at the Independence Hotel in Ibadan. This new mix of traditional African music and American genres became known as afrobeat. Another famous musician, Fela Kuti, often came to Modern Aces shows. Orlando Julius even said he helped Fela Kuti learn to play the saxophone.
His song "Jagua Nana" became a big hit in 1965. After its success, his band toured all over West Africa. As new music styles became popular, Orlando Julius formed new groups like the Afro Sounders. His 1966 album, Super Afro Soul, was a big success in Nigeria. It blended soul, pop, and funk, making him a national star and influencing American music.
In the 1970s, after the Nigerian civil war, Orlando Julius felt the music industry in Nigeria was changing. He decided to travel to learn more about music production. He went to Europe and then to the United States in 1973, where he decided to stay. He formed a band called Umoja in Washington, D.C., and played in local clubs. A big opportunity came when famous South African musician Hugh Masekela saw him play. Masekela formed a new band with Orlando Julius, and they recorded albums like The Boy's Doin' It. They toured together, opening for well-known artists like Herbie Hancock and The Pointer Sisters. Orlando Julius also played with other American musicians like James Brown. He was known for his special way of playing the saxophone in a minor key.
Later, he worked as a session musician in Los Angeles, playing on other artists' recordings. In 1978, he moved to Oakland and even went to film school. But he kept playing music. He released music on Nigerian labels, like Disco Hi-Life in 1979, which mixed disco and highlife music. He also taught his unique style to local musicians and formed a band called Ashiko. In 1984, he returned to Nigeria. He quickly started recording new songs and formed an 18-person band called the Nigerian All Stars.
Orlando Julius was not widely known outside Nigeria until his album Super Afro Soul was re-released in 2000. Another album, Orlando Julius and the Afro Sounders, was reissued in 2011. These re-releases led to him touring internationally. In 2014, he went to London to work with a group called The Heliocentrics. They recorded new music and new versions of his old songs. Their album, Jaiyede Afro, was released in 2014 and reached number 13 on the Billboard World Albums chart.
Later Life and Legacy
Around 2019 or 2020, Orlando Julius moved to Ijebu-Jesa with his wife, Latoya Ekemode. The local chief, Oba Moses Oluwafemi Agunsoye, gave him an honorary title. On April 14, 2022, Orlando Julius passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 78.
After his death, many people praised his contributions to music. The local chief called him a "very good ambassador" for his town and Nigeria. The Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture said his "passion for music was unparalleled" and that he helped bring afrobeat music to a global audience. Before he passed, a BBC Radio host called him a "legend." A writer for The Guardian described him as "one of the heroes of Nigerian music" and a "master of the simple, stomping riff." Many agree that Orlando Julius was very important in creating and popularizing Afro-pop music.
