Segun Bucknor facts for kids

Segun Bucknor (born March 29, 1946 – died August 11, 2017) was a Nigerian musician and journalist. He was known for his music in the 1960s and 1970s. Segun was a talented pianist and guitarist. He played different styles of music like soul music, pop music, and funk.

With his band, Segun Bucknor and the Assembly, he created many songs. Their music often talked about Nigerian culture or political ideas. The BBC once said his music was an "interesting slice of Nigerian pop music history and culture." Segun Bucknor was also the father of famous media personality Tosyn Bucknor and businesswoman Funke Bucknor-Obruthe.

Segun's Early Life

Segun Bucknor was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 29, 1946. He went to King's College and Columbia University in New York. While in school, he was part of the band and choir.

He started playing the tin whistle when he was younger. Later, he learned to play the guitar and piano. He also learned a lot from working with Roy Chicago's band.

His Music Career

In 1964, Segun joined a new band called the Hot Four. He played the organ and lead guitar. Other members included Mike Nelson Cole, the band leader, and Sunmi Smart Cole, the drummer. They often performed in Lagos clubs.

Segun then went to the United States to study for a few years. There, he was inspired by the musician Ray Charles. When he came back in 1968, his band got money from some investors. Mike Nelson Cole left the band, and Segun became the new leader.

Segun Bucknor and the Assembly

In 1969, the band changed its name to Segun Bucknor and the Assembly. They first recorded soul songs. Some of these were "Lord Give Me Soul" and "I Will Love You No Matter How." Over time, their music style changed to afrobeat. They even had a dancing group called the Sweet Things perform with them.

Segun Bucknor was known for putting political messages in his music. In 1970, his band released "Son of 15 January." This song was about the death of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, which happened on January 15, 1966. In the 1970s, they released more songs with strong political messages. These included "Sorrow, Sorrow, Sorrow" and "Poor Man No Get Brother."

However, the band's popularity started to decrease in the mid-1970s. Segun Bucknor stopped making music after getting threats because of his political views.

Life After Music

After Segun Bucknor and the Assembly broke up in 1975, Segun became a journalist. He wrote about political problems, just like he sang about them in his music.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Segun stayed out of the public eye. He wanted to focus on his family. He sometimes played music at cafes in the early 2000s. In his later years, he faced health issues. He sometimes appeared on his daughter Tosyn Bucknor's social media.

In 2002, the BBC wrote about Segun Bucknor's music career from 1969 to 1975. They praised his re-released songs. They said these songs showed an "interesting slice of Nigerian pop music history and culture."

Music Style

Segun Bucknor was known for how he used his voice. He would switch between singing and shouting. His voice would stand out above all the instruments. The drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, and horns would support his singing. His music had a flowing, rhythmic feel that made people want to dance. He sang in both English and Yoruba.

His Family Life

Segun Bucknor was married to Sola Bucknor. They stayed married until his death in 2017. They had two children together: Tosyn Bucknor, who became a media personality, and Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, a businesswoman.

Segun Bucknor passed away in Lagos on August 11, 2017. He was 71 years old. He had suffered from several strokes. His daughter Funke shared the news of his death on Facebook. He also had hypertension and diabetes.