Born on Sunday 22nd September, 1946 in Ondo State, Sunday Anthony Ishola Adeniyi Adegeye, "Sunny Ade", had music flowing in his veins.
His father, Samuel Adegeye, was a part-time church organist and an itinerant trader, while his mother, Mariam, was a bean cake seller.
Sunny Ade spent a considerable part of his childhood in the arts center of Oshogbo, Osun State.
He attended the African Church Primary School and the Methodist School, Oshogbo between 1952 and 1960. In 1960, Sunny enrolled at the St. Charles Grammar School, Oshogbo. Between 1958 and 1963 he was a part-time percussionist with Sunday Ariyo and Idowu Owoeye's juju bands in Oshogbo.
In 1963, while in class three, Sunny Ade dropped out of college. And in mid '63 Sunny Ade ran away from home in Oshogbo to Lagos where he joined Moses Olaiya Adejumo's (Baba Sala) Federal Rhythm Dandies. In 1965, after spending about 2 years with Adejumo, Sunny established his first group, Sunny Adex and His High Society Band. Later in 1966, Sunny changed the name of his group to Sunny Ade and The Green Spot Band.
Sunny's first record, "Alaanu L'Oluwa", released on African Songs label in 1967 sold a meager 13 copies.
Sunny Ade had his big break the following year in 1968, with the release of a chart topper, "Challenge Cup".
Between 1967 and 1974, Sunny Ade and The Green Spots released a total of 12 LPs on Chief Abioro's Africa Songs label.
But after a lengthy public court case involving contract disputes, he decided to leave African Songs to form his own recording company -- Sunny Alade Records, linked with Decca in London.
He also changed the name of the band to the African Beats.
They played a fast and spacey kind of juju music characterized by tight vocal harmonies and exquisite guitar works backed by traditional talking drums and percussion.
Since he was crowned the King of Juju music in 1977 King Sunny Ade has remained one of Nigeria's most popular musicians.
Starting with "E Kilo F'Omo Ode" in 1974, Sunny has been able to maintain a steady stream of Top Hits.
Some of his hits include:
The Late General Murtala Mohammed,
Synchro Chapter and
The Royal Sound.
Having secured his domestic reputation, Sunny Ade attempted to make inroads into the international market by signing with the British company, Island Records, in 1982.
Each release added to Sunny's stature as the leading juju musician, with lyrics reflecting his concern for social problems of Nigeria.
He continues to reinforce his growing international reputation with tours of the United States, Europe and Japan.
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Sunny Ade spent a considerable part of his childhood in the arts center of Oshogbo, Osun State.
