Veteran Nigeria Drummer and Music Producer Laolu Akintobi, popularly known as Laolu Akins said he doubted that his sojourn into music was going to take him anywhere but looking back he had all to be grateful for.
He made the disclosure when he featured as a Guest on WEEKEND KICKOFF, a Magazine production of SMAILZ Radio 98.7FM, anchored by Ambrose Somide.
According to the ex-Artists & Repertoire Controller of defunct Sony Music Entertainment International, his growing up was poor and rough with traces of unforgettable pains.
After spending time moving from one place to another, from one grandmother to another, between Ifo, Abeokuta, Ibese, Aiyetoro, all in the present Ogun State Nigeria, Uncle Laolu finally got respite with her elder sister (a Nurse), who had relocated from the North to Ebute-meta Lagos.
He also dreamt of becoming a pilot. According to him, he and other pupils went on an excursion to the Airport in Ikeja” and we saw aircrafts and told myself i will one day pilot one of them and that made me to develop interest in becoming a Pilot’”.
However, fate took him on a different trajectory as challenges which included financial difficulties made the family to force him to a carpenter shop as an apprentice.
He rebelled against that and rejected making a career in carpentry in his mind. He became psychologically restless on issues of future career. As he was struggling with various options he said “faith redirected me from the challenges to make a meaning as I accidentally walked into a music atmosphere, that exposed my talent”
There was the Layeni Family Theatre at Ebute -Meta whose guitarist son was a friend of the ambitious Laolu Akintobi. It was with the boy they eventually formed the Oscars group in 1963
He was the drummer of the band. He had mastered the drums to the extent of being recognized as the best of his time. It was the reason The Clusters lured him to their group.
The Clusters were a great and popular group back then in the 70s playing gigs all over Lagos and across Nigeria.
The point when his music career took an upward lift was when he co-founded the popular group BLO (Standing for Berkeley, Laolu & Odumosu).
BLO was unarguably one of the first well organized music bands and perhaps the first to successfully mixed native Nigerian rhythms with the psychedelic music of the western world.
The band got noticed as it was signed by a Recording label, where their first recorded work was done: BLO PHASE ONE. The band’s contract was soon terminated because the label could not meet up with their demands.
Without wasting any time Decca invited and signed the group and recorded BLO PHASE 2 and PHASE 3.
It was the success achieved with the albums that activated the band’s musical tour of European countries before eventually settling down in UK.
The legendary Music Producer on his return to Nigeria formed a company to manage legendary musicians like Onyeka Owenu Christy Essien before joining Sony music (formally CBS) as Artists and Repertoire Controller, where he produced hit songs for notable Artistes like; Sir Shina Peters, Mike Okri, Adewale Ayuba, Iyanda Sawaba and the rest.
At 78 years of age the most adorable music producer in Nigeria said he is still very much available to impact and empower more youths with his expanse Recording/ Rehearsal studios- G&A Studios located Ikeja, Lagos-Nigeria.
WEEKEND KICKOFF is a SMAILZ RADIO 98.7 FM flagship programme that rounds off the week putting the listener in a perfect mood for the weekend after a very busy working week.
It has featured notable guests like; Seye Kehinde of City People Media, Celebrity Journalist Mayor Akinpelu, former Osun Information Commissioner, Funke Egbemode,
Public Affairs Analyst and Blogger Chris Nwandu CKN, Former Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Amb. Ayoola Olukanni,
Zainab Suleiman Okino, Chairman Editorial Board of Blueprint Newspapers,
Alhaji Youssuf Olaniyoni, former Ogun Information Commissioner, Award winning Reporter Kingsley Uranta of Channels TV,
2006 CNN Journalist of the Year, Sola Osunkeye, Ace Commedian Ali Baba Atoyota Akpobome, Femi Adesina, Former NGE President and Presidential Spokesperson during the Buhari Administration and Dr Reuben Abati, Journalist, TV Anchor and Former Presidential Spokesperson to President Goodluck Jonathan.
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