Orlando Julius, ace saxophonist and highlife legend is dead

 

Orlando Julius, the renowned saxophonist and highlife legend, has passed away. He was aged 79. 

Bimbo Esho, managing director (MD) of Evergreen Music Company, who broke the news, said Julius died in the early hours of Friday.

In a Facebook post, Esho, however, said she got the information from Lady Latoya, the musician’s wife.

“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,” she wrote.

 “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.”

Julius was born in 1943 in Ikole, Ekiti state. He took interest in music as a child and dazzled many with his potentials as a member of his school’s band.

He was said to have dropped out of school and left Ekiti for Ibadan, Oyo state, to pursue his music career.

Julius was one of the early pioneers of Afrobeats and released several hit songs during his illustrious career including ‘A Dara’.