Christopher Isola Ajilo (26 December 1929[1] – 20 February 2021)[2] was a Nigerian musician and record producer whose band Chris Ajilo and His Cubanos released Ariwo and Eko O Gba Gbere.
Lifeedit
Ajilo's father was from Ijebu-Ijesha but Ajilo grew up in Lagos Island along with four other siblings including Cornie Ajilo, who was also in the music industry, another sibling, a brother was a member of the West African Frontier Force. He attended C.M.S. Grammar School but life in Lagos was tough, his father died when he was young and Ajilo had to grow up quickly to find a way to earn a living.[2] He decided to travel abroad, and to begin his journey, he became a stowaway and found his way to England where he studied music at the Eric Gilder School of Music.[2] In England, he took up playing the tenor saxophone and joined a jazz infused Afro-Cuban music playing band and played gigs with the bands of Kenny Graham and Ginger Johnson.[2] Upon completing studies at Central School of Dance Music, Ajilo returned to Nigeria and joined the West End Cool Cats Orchestra before forming his band, Chris Ajilo and the Cubanos.[2] A touring band, the group played in various locations in Nigeria and West Africa. The band released Ariwo and later Eko O Gba Gbere. In 1960, he was band leader of the national orchestra for Nigeria's independence ball.[3]
Ajilo was once the band leader at Premier and Lafia hotels in Ibadan and Federal Palance Hotel, Lagos and the NBC Dance Orchestra, Lagos.[4]
Ajilo's career was heavy in music production and instruction. In the 1970s, Ajilo was an in house producer for Polygram and later Premier Records where he worked with artists like Osita Osadebe. He was a music producer in one of Art Alade's television shows. He also taught music at the International School, Ibadan.[4]
"Ariwo", Chris Ajilo's first album in over 50 years (comprising 11 tracks) was produced by Beautiful Nubia and released on his EniObanke label in 2012.
Deathedit
He died at a hospital in Ilesa, Osun State, on 20 February 2021.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abVeteran highlife musician, Chris Ajilo dies at 91. The Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
^ abcde"I'm a man exposed to good living through the hard way - Chris Ajilo". 2013-03-14. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^Olaitan, Kemi (January 25, 2013). "A Passionate Lagosian Pens Autobiography". National Mirror.
^ abOti, Sonny (2009). Highlife music in West Africa : down memory lane--. Lagos, Nigeria: Malthouse Press. pp. 64–66. ISBN978-978-8422-08-2. OCLC 466334189.
This article on a Nigerian musician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
chris, ajilo, christopher, isola, ajilo, december, 1929, february, 2021, nigerian, musician, record, producer, whose, band, cubanos, released, ariwo, gbere, life, editajilo, father, from, ijebu, ijesha, ajilo, grew, lagos, island, along, with, four, other, sib. Christopher Isola Ajilo 26 December 1929 1 20 February 2021 2 was a Nigerian musician and record producer whose band Chris Ajilo and His Cubanos released Ariwo and Eko O Gba Gbere Life editAjilo s father was from Ijebu Ijesha but Ajilo grew up in Lagos Island along with four other siblings including Cornie Ajilo who was also in the music industry another sibling a brother was a member of the West African Frontier Force He attended C M S Grammar School but life in Lagos was tough his father died when he was young and Ajilo had to grow up quickly to find a way to earn a living 2 He decided to travel abroad and to begin his journey he became a stowaway and found his way to England where he studied music at the Eric Gilder School of Music 2 In England he took up playing the tenor saxophone and joined a jazz infused Afro Cuban music playing band and played gigs with the bands of Kenny Graham and Ginger Johnson 2 Upon completing studies at Central School of Dance Music Ajilo returned to Nigeria and joined the West End Cool Cats Orchestra before forming his band Chris Ajilo and the Cubanos 2 A touring band the group played in various locations in Nigeria and West Africa The band released Ariwo and later Eko O Gba Gbere In 1960 he was band leader of the national orchestra for Nigeria s independence ball 3 Ajilo was once the band leader at Premier and Lafia hotels in Ibadan and Federal Palance Hotel Lagos and the NBC Dance Orchestra Lagos 4 Ajilo s career was heavy in music production and instruction In the 1970s Ajilo was an in house producer for Polygram and later Premier Records where he worked with artists like Osita Osadebe He was a music producer in one of Art Alade s television shows He also taught music at the International School Ibadan 4 Ariwo Chris Ajilo s first album in over 50 years comprising 11 tracks was produced by Beautiful Nubia and released on his EniObanke label in 2012 Death editHe died at a hospital in Ilesa Osun State on 20 February 2021 1 References edit a b Veteran highlife musician Chris Ajilo dies at 91 The Guardian Nigeria Retrieved 21 March 2021 a b c d e I m a man exposed to good living through the hard way Chris Ajilo 2013 03 14 Retrieved 2021 02 22 Olaitan Kemi January 25 2013 A Passionate Lagosian Pens Autobiography National Mirror a b Oti Sonny 2009 Highlife music in West Africa down memory lane Lagos Nigeria Malthouse Press pp 64 66 ISBN 978 978 8422 08 2 OCLC 466334189 nbsp nbsp This article on a Nigerian musician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chris Ajilo amp oldid 1179008902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
