Peter King Adeyoyin Osubu (1939 – 29 August 2023), known as Peter King, was a Nigerian musician who played several instruments, but was best known as an alto saxophonist playing a combination of Afrobeat and jazz.[1] Peter King is perhaps better known in Europe and America than in Nigeria for his "Miliki Sound" on the record A Soulful Peter King, where he played popular classics such as "Sincerely", "We Belong Together" and "Just Because".[2]
Peter King was born in 1939 in Enugu in the Southeastern region of Nigeria and grew up in Lokoja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. In 1957 he joined the Roy Chicago band in Ibadan, playing the maracas and then the conga drum. He moved to other bands in Ibadan and then Lagos, playing the double bass, drums and then the alto sax. In 1961 he went to London, England, where he studied at various schools of music, including Trinity College of Music.[3]
While in London, King joined with drummer Bayo Martins and trumpeter Mike Falana to form the African Messengers group.[4] The group performed at festivals and clubs, and served as backup band for acts like The Four Tops, The Temptations and Diana Ross. The African Messengers recorded many 45rpm records. "Highlife Piccadilly", a fusion of Highlife and jazz, was a hit. King formed another band The Blues Builders with which he toured Europe and Northern Africa.[3]
King returned to Nigeria in 1969, and with his group The Voice of Africa performed on the war front during the Nigerian Civil War. Returning to London in 1971, he toured Europe, America and Japan with his group Shango. He assembled and arranged a big band to back the singing group Boney M on their first live concert tour across Europe in 1977.[5] He recorded nine studio albums between 1975 and 1978, and wrote music for several plays and television shows. In 1979 King returned to Nigeria and formed the P.K. band. He composed music for soap operas and recorded three further albums.[3] In the early 1980s Peter King and his P.K. Band played on the NTA and at the National Museum, Lagos, for three years.[5]
King played in the Sonny Rollins-Gene Ammons-John Coltrane tradition.[1] He had a unique tone, flawless articulation and a fresh turn of mind in improvisations, and was the leading tenor saxophone voice to have come from the Nigerian highlife and afrobeat traditions.[7] Talking of his hit "Highlife Piccadilly", King said: "Our philosophy was to play modern jazz with highlife as the basis ... Afrojazz is my musical direction and a mission".[5] King combined afrobeat with a funk style similar to James Brown. His album Shango was acclaimed by critics. Opening with a simple flute melody, tambourines enter followed by complex duets between horns and looping guitar riffs.[8]
School of Musicedit
King founded his School of Music in 1982, in a three-room apartment in Maza Maza. At first it had about 30 students, though since then has expanded greatly, and is now located in Badagry. It has lecture halls, rehearsal rooms, an assembly-concert hall and hostel facilities. The school has been assisted by Canadian musicians Oliver Jones and Archie Allen and greatly assisted by the French government. Almost two thousand students have graduated from the school since 1982. The school provides practical tuition and grants certificates and diplomas. It prepares students for the professional examinations of Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship of the Trinity, Royal and London Schools of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.[5]Aṣa is one of the notable alumnus of King's school of music.[9]
In January 2007 the French Ambassador in Nigeria inaugurated the new facilities of the Peter King school of music at Badagry, Lagos State.[10]
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Peter King Adeyoyin Osubu 1939 29 August 2023 known as Peter King was a Nigerian musician who played several instruments but was best known as an alto saxophonist playing a combination of Afrobeat and jazz 1 Peter King is perhaps better known in Europe and America than in Nigeria for his Miliki Sound on the record A Soulful Peter King where he played popular classics such as Sincerely We Belong Together and Just Because 2 Contents 1 Life 2 Music 3 School of Music 4 Discography 5 References 6 External linksLife editPeter King was born in 1939 in Enugu in the Southeastern region of Nigeria and grew up in Lokoja Lagos and Port Harcourt In 1957 he joined the Roy Chicago band in Ibadan playing the maracas and then the conga drum He moved to other bands in Ibadan and then Lagos playing the double bass drums and then the alto sax In 1961 he went to London England where he studied at various schools of music including Trinity College of Music 3 While in London King joined with drummer Bayo Martins and trumpeter Mike Falana to form the African Messengers group 4 The group performed at festivals and clubs and served as backup band for acts like The Four Tops The Temptations and Diana Ross The African Messengers recorded many 45rpm records Highlife Piccadilly a fusion of Highlife and jazz was a hit King formed another band The Blues Builders with which he toured Europe and Northern Africa 3 King returned to Nigeria in 1969 and with his group The Voice of Africa performed on the war front during the Nigerian Civil War Returning to London in 1971 he toured Europe America and Japan with his group Shango He assembled and arranged a big band to back the singing group Boney M on their first live concert tour across Europe in 1977 5 He recorded nine studio albums between 1975 and 1978 and wrote music for several plays and television shows In 1979 King returned to Nigeria and formed the P K band He composed music for soap operas and recorded three further albums 3 In the early 1980s Peter King and his P K Band played on the NTA and at the National Museum Lagos for three years 5 King died on 29 August 2023 at the age of 84 6 Music editKing played in the Sonny Rollins Gene Ammons John Coltrane tradition 1 He had a unique tone flawless articulation and a fresh turn of mind in improvisations and was the leading tenor saxophone voice to have come from the Nigerian highlife and afrobeat traditions 7 Talking of his hit Highlife Piccadilly King said Our philosophy was to play modern jazz with highlife as the basis Afrojazz is my musical direction and a mission 5 King combined afrobeat with a funk style similar to James Brown His album Shango was acclaimed by critics Opening with a simple flute melody tambourines enter followed by complex duets between horns and looping guitar riffs 8 School of Music editKing founded his School of Music in 1982 in a three room apartment in Maza Maza At first it had about 30 students though since then has expanded greatly and is now located in Badagry It has lecture halls rehearsal rooms an assembly concert hall and hostel facilities The school has been assisted by Canadian musicians Oliver Jones and Archie Allen and greatly assisted by the French government Almost two thousand students have graduated from the school since 1982 The school provides practical tuition and grants certificates and diplomas It prepares students for the professional examinations of Associate Licentiate and Fellowship of the Trinity Royal and London Schools of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama 5 Aṣa is one of the notable alumnus of King s school of music 9 In January 2007 the French Ambassador in Nigeria inaugurated the new facilities of the Peter King school of music at Badagry Lagos State 10 Discography editMiliki Sounds Orbitone 1975 Omo Lewa Orbitone 1976 A Soulfull Peter King Orbitone 1977 Moods Tyrone Records 1978 African Dialects Grandstand 1979 Palm Wine Vendor 2002 References edit a b Benson Odonije Peter King African Dialects Discogs Retrieved 4 November 2009 Benson Idonije 7 October 2009 The collector s soulfull Peter King Guardian Newspapers Nigeria Retrieved 4 November 2009 dead link a b c Peter King Biography Peter King Archived from the original on 17 July 2011 Retrieved 4 November 2009 Val Wilmer 23 August 2003 Bayo Martins Nigerian drummer who pioneered Afro jazz The Guardian London Retrieved 4 November 2009 a b c d Tam Fiofori Peter the King Timbuktu Media Archived from the original on 29 January 2011 Retrieved 4 November 2009 Nigerian music legend Peter King dies at 84 The Blade NGR August 31 2023 Retrieved August 31 2023 West Africa West Africa Pub Co ltd 1988 p 702 Song of the Day 4 8 09 Peter King Shango betterPropaganda Archived from the original on 11 April 2009 Retrieved 4 November 2009 Asa Pulse 4 November 2014 Cultural and Co operation Relations Embassy of France in Nigeria Archived from the original on 16 August 2007 Retrieved 4 November 2009 External links edit Peter King Shango YouTube Retrieved 4 November 2009 dead YouTube link Peter King discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Peter King Nigerian musician amp oldid 1186044135, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
