Legendary highlife musician, Orlando Julius is dead.
According to a Facebook post by Bimbo Esho, the ‘A dara, a dara’ singer, died in the early hours of Friday at 79.
Esho in an early Friday Facebook post said, “Bimbo, Daddy Has Passed On…This was the message I stumbled on waking up at exactly 3am to peruse my WhatsApp page. It was a message sent in to me by Orlando Julius beautiful and supportive wife Lady Latoya.
“Orlando Julius, a native of Ijebu Ijesha, succumbed to the cold hands of death and breathed his last few hours ago at the age of 79.
“We shall miss one of Nigeria’s fathers of Afro/Highlife Music, a gentleman and a fine saxophonist.
“May daddy Orlando Julius soul journey well. To the entire Ekemode family, may God give you the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.”
Orlando’s 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. 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.
His big role in the industry got highlighted last year, when many stakeholders gathered in Ilesa, Osun State, to celebrate his 60 years on stage.
