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Victor Abimbola Olaiya was considered to be one of the most influential trumpet players in Nigeria, and a pioneer in the highlife genre.
Olaiya began his career playing a variety of music, including waltzes and highlifes. In 1952, he decided to form his own band, who became known as the Cool Cats as he blended traditional Nigerian melodic forms with Western jazz instrumentation. His popularity grew throughout the 1950s, and he released most of his material in the 1960s. While very little of his work was heard in the West, in Nigeria he was tremendously popular, and his take on highlife was seen as a stepping-stone to what would become known as Afro-beat. Olaiya became a nightclub owner in the '70s and continued with his music; he was also leader of the Nigerian Musicians Union. Victor Abimbola Olaiya died on February 12, 2020 in Lagos, Nigeria; he was 89 years old. ~ All Music Guide, Rovi
Olaiya began his career playing a variety of music, including waltzes and highlifes. In 1952, he decided to form his own band, who became known as the Cool Cats as he blended traditional Nigerian melodic forms with Western jazz instrumentation. His popularity grew throughout the 1950s, and he released most of his material in the 1960s. While very little of his work was heard in the West, in Nigeria he was tremendously popular, and his take on highlife was seen as a stepping-stone to what would become known as Afro-beat. Olaiya became a nightclub owner in the '70s and continued with his music; he was also leader of the Nigerian Musicians Union. Victor Abimbola Olaiya died on February 12, 2020 in Lagos, Nigeria; he was 89 years old. ~ All Music Guide, Rovi
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