King Sunny Adé
King Sunny Ade is the undisputed king of juju music, the dance-inspiring hybrid of western pop and traditional African music with roots in the guitar tradition of Nigeria. Although he's yet to equal the success that he enjoyed with his early-'80s albums and American tours, Ade and his band, His African Beats, continue to weave an infectious blend of electric guitars, synthesizers and multi-layered percussion. Born to a family of Nigerian royalty, Ade left school to pursue a career in music. In the mid-'60s, he performed with a highlife band, Moses Olaiya's Federal Rhythm Dandies. Ade formed his own band, the Green Spots, in 1967. Frustrated by the exploitation of the record industry, Ade launched his own record label in 1974. In the decades since, the label has released more than 100 of Ade's recordings in Nigeria. Ade began to attract attention in the western world when three of his albums -- Juju Music, Synchro System, and Aura -- were released in the early '80s on the Mango label, a subsidiary of Island Records. Ade & His African Beats made their debut American performances to enthusiastic crowds in 1983. Although Juju Music and Synchro System showed signs that Ade was going up to live up to billing as "the African Bob Marley," Aura was a commercial disappointment and the group was dropped by Island Records. While they released an album, Authority of Your Ticket, in 1990, it too failed to stir much commercial interest. E Dide (Get Up), released in 1995, offered hints that the best days of Ade and His African Beats were yet to come. The group followed it with Odu, a collection of ancient Nigerian songs, in 1998; the album was nominated for a Grammy. Its follow-up, Seven Degrees North, appeared in 2000. Ade has remained a powerful force in Nigeria. Money received from his early albums has been used to launch an oil firm, a mining company, a nightclub, a film and video production company, a PR firm, and a record label specializing in recordings by African artists. It's been estimated than more than 700 people are employed by Ade's companies. In the mid-'90s, Ade founded the King Sunny Ade Foundation, an organization that includes a performing arts center, a state of the art recording studio, and housing for young musicians and performers on a five acre tract donated by the Lagos state government. Ade currently serves as chairperson of the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria. In 1996, Ade formed a supergroup, the Way Forward, featuring top-notch Nigerian musicians. He and His African Beats have been featured in three films -- Juju Music in 1988, Live at Montreux in 1990, and Roots of Rhythm in 1997.
© Craig Harris /TiVo
Discography
16 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Best of the Classic Years
Africa - Released by Shanachie on 11 Feb 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
King of Juju
World - Released by The Gallo Record Company Vault on 12 Aug 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sweet Banana
King Sunny Adé, The Golden Mecury of Africa
World - Released by Atom Park on 1 Dec 1986
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Gems From the Classic Years (1967-1974)
Africa - Released by Shanachie on 20 Jun 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
E Dide [Get Up]
New Age - Released by Rhino Atlantic on 21 Nov 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classics, Vol. 2: Ekilo Fomo Ode & the Way Forward
World - Released by Masterdisc Nigeria Ltd on 3 Jan 2020
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
King of Juju Music
Africa - Released by WFN Distribution (Pty) Ltd on 21 May 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sunny Ade and His Green Spot Band, Vol. 4
King Sunny Adé, His Green Spot Band
World - Released by African Songs Limited on 16 Dec 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
King Sunny Ade live 1
Traditional Jazz & New Orleans - Released by UMIJam on 5 Sep 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classics, Vol. 1: Let Them Say & Edide
World - Released by Masterdisc Nigeria Ltd on 27 Dec 2019
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Afai Bawon Ja
Africa - Released by African Songs Ltd on 4 Jun 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sunny Ade the Master Guitarist, Vol. 1
World - Released by African Songs Limited on 10 Dec 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Salps-20
King Sunny Adé, His African Beats
World - Released by Alade Records Ltd on 13 Dec 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Isele Yi Leju
Africa - Released by African Songs Ltd on 5 Jul 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live Dance
Traditional Jazz & New Orleans - Released by UMIJam on 25 Sep 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo