Orlando Julius
Biography: Orlando Julius: Pioneer of Afro-Soul
Orlando Julius Aremu Olusanya Ekemode (1943–2022) was a legendary Nigerian saxophonist, singer, bandleader, and songwriter whose fusion of African rhythms with American pop, soul, and R&B helped pioneer the genre of Afrobeat and Afro-Soul.
Early Life and Career
- Born in Ikole, Nigeria in 1943. His first musical teacher was his mother, and he played drums and flute in school.
- After his father’s death and dropping out of school, he moved to Ibadan in 1957 to pursue music, initially working as a bakery assistant.
- He learned the saxophone and played with various highlife and juju bands, including Jazz Romero and Rex Williams.
- In the early 1960s, he formed his own group, The Modern Aces, where he began blending traditional African music with American R&B and soul.
- His 1965 single “Jagua Nana” and the highly influential 1966 album Super Afro Soul made him a national celebrity in Nigeria and gained international notice, with some critics suggesting it influenced the funk movement in the US.
International Influence and Later Years
- Julius moved to the United States in the mid-1970s, where he formed a band called Umoja and worked with prominent musicians like South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela (co-writing tracks on the album The Boy’s Doin’ It) and Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier.
- He spent time as a session musician in Los Angeles and later Oakland, California, before returning to Nigeria in the 1980s.
- International interest in his early work saw a resurgence in the 2000s and 2010s through reissues of albums like Super Afro Soul and Orlando Julius and the Afro Sounders.
- In 2014, he released the critically acclaimed album Jaiyede Afro with the UK-based band, The Heliocentrics, which led to extensive international touring.
- Orlando Julius passed away on April 14, 2022, at the age of 78, leaving behind a profound legacy as one of the true titans of Nigerian music.
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