Orlando Julius bio: age, songs, height, wife, all you need to know.
Orlando Julius Olusanya Ekemode, better known as Orlando Julius, is a Nigerian saxophone, vocalist, bandleader, and songwriter connected with afrobeat music.
Orlando Julius: Profile summary
| Intro | Musician |
| A.K.A. | Orlando Julius Ekemode |
| Is | Singer |
| From | Nigeria |
| Type | Music |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 1943, Ilesa |
| Age: | 77 years |
Orlando Julius: Early Life Story, Family Background and Education
Orlando Julius was born in 1943 in Ikole, Nigeria to a merchant family during British colonialism. Julius’ first musical teacher was his mother, who would sing and dance while he played drums. He went to St. Peter’s Anglican School in Ikole and played in the school band. In 1957, after dropping out of school and the death of his father, he left for Ibadan to pursue a career as a musician. He worked at a bakery while playing the drums or flute with juju and konkoma bands. There was no music school in the area at the time, so the premier, Obafemi Awolowo, created one in his political party’s secretariat. He spent time trying to connect with highlife musician Jazz Romero, doing chores for him hoping to garner enough favor for music lessons. Romero invited him to play with his band at a hotel in Ondo, learning his first chords on the instrument that he would become best known for, the saxophone. When Romero got into a conflict with a nightclub owner and walked out on a gig, Julius stepped in as bandleader. Not long after, back in Ibadan, he joined Rex Williams’ highlife band. In lieu of formal lessons, he consumed as much music as possible, buying records of any horn-based music he could, but especially the highlife music out of Ghana which had become popular in Nigeria, too.
Orlando Julius: Legacy
Lopa Kothari of BBC radio called Orlando Julius a “legend” and Robin Denselow of The Guardian wrote that he is “one of the heroes of Nigerian music”, a “master of the simple, stomping riff” with a significant influence on afrobeat music. Modern Ghana considered him “the last of Nigeria’s titans in the highlife music genre”. According to AllMusic, “few artists have been more crucial to the invention, development, and popularization of Afro-pop”.
Orlando Julius: Education
Orlando Julius Olusanya Ekemede went to St. Peter’s Anglican School in Ikole and played in the school band. In 1957, after dropping out of school and the death of his father, he left for Ibadan to pursue a career as a musician.
Orlando Julius: Career
Orlando Julius was a saxophonist, singer and bandleader. A native of Ijebu Ijesha, his musical career took flight in the 60s when Eddie Okonta invited him to join his band. Before then, he had been tutored by Highlife musician Jazz Romero. With Okonta’s band, Julius performed in many gigs and opened for the American trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong. In subsequent years, he would play with other bands, including Hugh Masakela and opened for other high profile international acts. Julius also opened for the iconic American musician James Brown.
He released his first hit ‘Jagua Nana’ in 1965 and went on to tour West Africa. Julius formed the Ashiko movement and taught people his style of music although he did not stay in this position for long.
After spending some time in the United States, he returned to Nigeria in 1984. He quickly began recording tracks for the album Dance Afro-Beat, leading him to put together the 18-person Nigerian All-Stars band.
Orlando Julius: Death
Orlando Julius died on the 14 April 2022.
Legendary Nigerian highlife musician, Orlando Julius, is dead. His family confirmed that he died on Thursday night at the age of 79.
The news was also confirmed by Afrobeat musician, Femi Kuti, who shared a photo of the deceased on social media.
Orlando Julius: Net Worth
Orlando Juliusis said to have an estimated net worth of $5million dollars.
