Biography
Oliver later noticed that the band were not friendly. They quarreled, argued and fought a lot. Oliver did not like the situation. He left the band and joined Sule Agboola and his Moonlight Star Band. They were preparing for summer tour of Europe in 1973. They got him an international passport and visa. They left Nigeria on July 13, 1973 and went to London and only performed at the weekends. There Oliver was lucky to secure a part time job where he was paid 80 pounds a week. They stayed in London for four months. Oliver used the money he earned from his job to buy two guitars, two amplifiers, and a set of drums in preparation for his own band. When they got back to Nigeria, Oliver set-up his own band.
In 1974, Oliver composed a number, Messiah, Messiah. The number had five tracks in all. He approached Alhaji Olatunde Yusuf, the chairman of Olumo Records Limited. Yusuf said the songs were nice, that he was going to wax it to give it a professional touch. He took the master tape of Messiah, Messiah and waxed it. When it came out, it sold more than 50,000 copies. That was the first impression. It was the talk of the town. It was popular in the East,West, North and even Cameroun, Cote d? voire, Congo and Togo. A lot of people said Oliver De Coque is from Cameroun while some said he was from Congo.
From the moneys he made from the record, Oliver bought three brand new vehicles and employed three drivers, all in just one day. When we got to Benin while on his way home, his people threw a party and his fans gathered and he played music for five hours. Then at Onitsha, those who had listened to the music rejoiced so much when they saw him. On arrival at his village, Ezinifite it was jubilation everywhere because the music had gone viral. This is how Oliver began and continued to make progress in his music career until he became very popular and a highlife music star.
In 1979, Oliver came up with with People?s Club Ka anyi bili be ndu (let us enjoy ourselves). The music sold two million copies. That was Olivers greatest hit. The lyric of the music was fantastic, the melody was okay, the guitar was on a top gear, and the arrangement of the music was professionally done. He followed this up with Identity which was a chart buster, then Ugbana, Easter Special, Obele nwa nâ amu iri enu, which were all hits. In 1990, he churned out Ana enwe obodo enwe, followed by Nnukwu mmanwu, Bili kam bili in 1992.
Oliver died on June 21, 2008 of low blood pressure.
- Freshlyground
Freshlyground is a South African Afro-fusion band that formed in Cape Town in 2002. The band members variously hail from South Africa,Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Freshlyground's musical style blends elements of traditional South African music (such...
- Biography Of Bright Chimezie
Bright Chimezie Ironmuo, also called Okoro Junior was born on the day of Nigerian independence i.e October 1, 1960. He is a musician who hails from Ekeoba, Umuahia in Imo State of Nigeria. Bright Chimezie was born and bred in his village. He grew up...
- Biography Of Sunny Okosun
Sonny Okosun was born on January 1, 1947 in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria and died on May 24, 2008 in Washington DC. He was one of the leading Nigerian musician of the late 1970s to the mid 1980s, from Esan in Edo State, in the South-South of Nigeria. He...
- Biography Of Stephen Osita Osadebe
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe was born in March, 1936 and died on May 11, 2007. He was popularly known as just Osadebe in his life time. Osadebe was an Igbo Nigerian highlife musician. He is a native of Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Nigeria....
- Biography Of Sunny Ade
"King" Sunny Adé, born on September 22, 1946 as Sunday Adeniyi, is a Nigerian musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a pioneer of modern world music. He is one of the most influential musicians of all time. Adé was born into a Nigerian...
Biography
Biography of Oliver De Coque
Chief Dr. Oliver Sunday Akanite, Popularly referred to as Oliver De Coque was born on April 14, 1947, and died on June 21, 2008. He was a Nigerian highlife musician and guitarist who recorded
more than 73 albums in his life time. Oliver was a native of Ezinifite village, Nnewi, in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State. Oliver had his primary education at Saint Simon Central School, Ezinifite. He further attended the Niger Institute of Commerce, Aba where he studied English, Book Keeping and Accounting Oliver got married when he was 20 years old.
Oliver ventured into music when he was 17 years of age and he started with Igbo music called Ekpili in 1965 with one Alexander Emelumonye. In those days, Nigerian Television Authority features their music every weekend on Channel 4, Ogbor Hill, Aba. While Oliver waited to play his music on weekend basis, he would go and trade shoes, which was a trade he also learnt in those days.
After the Nigerian civil war, in 1970, Oliver went back to Aba searching for job. He then met one of his old friends named Obed Okoroafor, a native of Mbaise in Imo State. Obed was a good congarist while Oliver was a good guitarist and vocalist. Oliver then made a decision to give-up local music entirely and look for something bigger than his Ekpili music. Consequently, the two friends started looking for what they can do together. They then met a musical band called Sunny Agaga and his Lucky Star Band who came from Lagos to play their music in an occasion in Aba.
Before they started their performance in the occasion, Oliver approached the band leader, Sunny Agaga. He pleaded with them to feature him and his friends and that he should employ them as they were good in music making. Sunny Agaga hinted that he wouldn?t give Oliver an immediate response. However, when the band wanted to perform, they invited Oliver and handed him over their guitar and he started backing them up. As the music changed, Oliver. Oliver?s performance immediately earned him automatic employment with the band. However, because the band had good drummers, they did not want Obed, but upon Olivers pleadings, they hired him.
Oliver ventured into music when he was 17 years of age and he started with Igbo music called Ekpili in 1965 with one Alexander Emelumonye. In those days, Nigerian Television Authority features their music every weekend on Channel 4, Ogbor Hill, Aba. While Oliver waited to play his music on weekend basis, he would go and trade shoes, which was a trade he also learnt in those days.
After the Nigerian civil war, in 1970, Oliver went back to Aba searching for job. He then met one of his old friends named Obed Okoroafor, a native of Mbaise in Imo State. Obed was a good congarist while Oliver was a good guitarist and vocalist. Oliver then made a decision to give-up local music entirely and look for something bigger than his Ekpili music. Consequently, the two friends started looking for what they can do together. They then met a musical band called Sunny Agaga and his Lucky Star Band who came from Lagos to play their music in an occasion in Aba.
Before they started their performance in the occasion, Oliver approached the band leader, Sunny Agaga. He pleaded with them to feature him and his friends and that he should employ them as they were good in music making. Sunny Agaga hinted that he wouldn?t give Oliver an immediate response. However, when the band wanted to perform, they invited Oliver and handed him over their guitar and he started backing them up. As the music changed, Oliver. Oliver?s performance immediately earned him automatic employment with the band. However, because the band had good drummers, they did not want Obed, but upon Olivers pleadings, they hired him.
After the occasion, they all moved to Lagos. After joining the band, there was no occasion for the band to play and earn money for about three weeks. Oliver then decided to look for another band, and luckily for him, he met Jacob Oluwole and his Friendly Unity Band. He approached them at Oshodi, and he was interviewed and got employed. The band gave Oliver accommodation. This happened at the time the band was preparing for a recording with the title, Agbasisi. The song was successfully recorded, and it became a hit.
Oliver later noticed that the band were not friendly. They quarreled, argued and fought a lot. Oliver did not like the situation. He left the band and joined Sule Agboola and his Moonlight Star Band. They were preparing for summer tour of Europe in 1973. They got him an international passport and visa. They left Nigeria on July 13, 1973 and went to London and only performed at the weekends. There Oliver was lucky to secure a part time job where he was paid 80 pounds a week. They stayed in London for four months. Oliver used the money he earned from his job to buy two guitars, two amplifiers, and a set of drums in preparation for his own band. When they got back to Nigeria, Oliver set-up his own band.
In 1974, Oliver composed a number, Messiah, Messiah. The number had five tracks in all. He approached Alhaji Olatunde Yusuf, the chairman of Olumo Records Limited. Yusuf said the songs were nice, that he was going to wax it to give it a professional touch. He took the master tape of Messiah, Messiah and waxed it. When it came out, it sold more than 50,000 copies. That was the first impression. It was the talk of the town. It was popular in the East,West, North and even Cameroun, Cote d? voire, Congo and Togo. A lot of people said Oliver De Coque is from Cameroun while some said he was from Congo.
From the moneys he made from the record, Oliver bought three brand new vehicles and employed three drivers, all in just one day. When we got to Benin while on his way home, his people threw a party and his fans gathered and he played music for five hours. Then at Onitsha, those who had listened to the music rejoiced so much when they saw him. On arrival at his village, Ezinifite it was jubilation everywhere because the music had gone viral. This is how Oliver began and continued to make progress in his music career until he became very popular and a highlife music star.
In 1979, Oliver came up with with People?s Club Ka anyi bili be ndu (let us enjoy ourselves). The music sold two million copies. That was Olivers greatest hit. The lyric of the music was fantastic, the melody was okay, the guitar was on a top gear, and the arrangement of the music was professionally done. He followed this up with Identity which was a chart buster, then Ugbana, Easter Special, Obele nwa nâ amu iri enu, which were all hits. In 1990, he churned out Ana enwe obodo enwe, followed by Nnukwu mmanwu, Bili kam bili in 1992.
Oliver died on June 21, 2008 of low blood pressure.
- Freshlyground
Freshlyground is a South African Afro-fusion band that formed in Cape Town in 2002. The band members variously hail from South Africa,Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Freshlyground's musical style blends elements of traditional South African music (such...
- Biography Of Bright Chimezie
Bright Chimezie Ironmuo, also called Okoro Junior was born on the day of Nigerian independence i.e October 1, 1960. He is a musician who hails from Ekeoba, Umuahia in Imo State of Nigeria. Bright Chimezie was born and bred in his village. He grew up...
- Biography Of Sunny Okosun
Sonny Okosun was born on January 1, 1947 in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria and died on May 24, 2008 in Washington DC. He was one of the leading Nigerian musician of the late 1970s to the mid 1980s, from Esan in Edo State, in the South-South of Nigeria. He...
- Biography Of Stephen Osita Osadebe
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe was born in March, 1936 and died on May 11, 2007. He was popularly known as just Osadebe in his life time. Osadebe was an Igbo Nigerian highlife musician. He is a native of Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Nigeria....
- Biography Of Sunny Ade
"King" Sunny Adé, born on September 22, 1946 as Sunday Adeniyi, is a Nigerian musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a pioneer of modern world music. He is one of the most influential musicians of all time. Adé was born into a Nigerian...