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The acting president of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, (PMAN), a gifted musician, song writer and entertainment icon will turn 70 come August 14th 2012. The Septuagenarian speaks about his life, his upcoming album among others.
Mr. Emma Ogosi, hails from Ogbe- Agueze Umuaji quarters in Asaba, Delta state. A Septuagenarian, and entertainer of repute, he was born in 1942.
In 1963, Emma Ogosi, who aspired to be a fighter pilot enlisted in the Nigerian Air Force as a pioneering cadet officer, and was trained in Germany, where he earned a degree as military aircraft engineer. He disengaged voluntarily from the Nigerian Air Force in 1967.
Subsequently In 1968, his passion for music began to concretise when together with some friends, he formed a pop/rock group called The Expensives in Kaduna, and that same year, the group performed at the wedding reception of former Military President, General Ibrahim
Babangida. Emma Ogosi’s stage name was Cherry Manuel at that time.
In 1973 he secured employment with the then Mid-West Television, Benin City, now NTA Benin, as one of the pioneer TV producers. He released his first solo music album titled, Nobody Knows (1981), and was followed by another titled , It is not easy (1982). That same year, he emerged as the first secretary general of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), an umbrella union of Nigerian musicians.
As a producer with Mid-West Television and a catalyst of Nigerian music, he created two popular music programmes, Voices From Within and Music Panorama with the support of notable artistes such as Chris Okotie, Gbubemi Amas(Amas Grill), Orits Wiliki, among others.
On why he quit the Air Force to join the music industry, Ogosi said he had a promising start, but failed to succeed as an air force pilot because of its difficult nature. He was grounded, and was advised to study Engineering in Germany. "So, immediately I
graduated as an Engineer, I left because I wanted to fly planes and not be an Engineer”.
On the secret of his youthful looks, he said “nothing controls me; I eat simple foods like eba, which is my favourite. I do not pretend, I do whatever pleases me.
On his private life, he averred that he has never thought of divorcing his wife, Evi-Edna, though they have been separated since 1999. He has however, lived happily with his children.
However, the Chairman of the birthday organising committee, Mr. Kitson Kagbare said they are working on releasing a new album on his birthday. He said Egosi ought to be celebrated at 70.
