The Nigerian music industry is inundated with music greats, legends and stars who have made imprints in the sands of time on the music industry.
One of them is the late saxophonist and afro highlife pioneer, Christopher Ajilore known as Chris Ajilo. When musicians of yore like Sunny Okosuns, Ayinde Barrister, Dan Maraya Jos, Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya, Art Alade the father of Darey, the R&B and showbiz entrepreneur; Orlando Julius, the enigmatic Fela Anikulapo, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Sound Sultan all of blessed memory, departs this earth, their music, hit songs still live.
This makes Chris Ajilo to still live on as his song, Eko Gbagbere recorded in 1955 is still relevant. The remix of the evergreen song, ‘Eko Gbagbere’ recorded and performed in the studio by Chris Ajilo featuring Banky W and Korede Sax was done in 2016, making the song about the ‘Lagos City’ reverberates.
Pa Ajilo who’s music reigned from the 50s to 80s, the musician and music producer for EMI Records, Polygram Records still doing stuffs in 2000s and helping COSON to find its feet.
It is on record that Pa Ajilo who died in 2021 at 91 years in Ijebu-Ijesha, Osun State was part of those that formed the first performing music union titled Nigerian Union of Musicians (NUM) that had Bobby Benson and Victor Olaiya as pioneer executives.
Today’s musicians and music professionals can learn a lot from the professionals of yore like Chris Ajilo as yours sincerely visited him in November 2017 at his modest home in Osun State and he harped on professional musicians learning the art of playing a music instrument to be proficient because during his days, you needed to know how to play an instrument and also try to learn music theoretically if one wants to go the long haul.
Pa Ajilo noted to LEADERSHIP and Seyi Sokoya of Tribune Newspaper that “music is a rewarding career but you must define what you want from it and be dedicated to the craft and pray to God for success”. Pa Ajilo who produced ‘Osondu Owendu’ of the high life crooner, Olisa Osadebe, stated during our interviews with him that this was the secret of the success of most of the musicians of yore.
Pa Ajilo who had a lengthy career, recorded Emi Mimo, Ariwo, Ilu Eko and the popular, ‘Eko O Gba Gbere’ among others, also inspiring the likes of Fela Kuti and several other musicians.
