William Onyeabor dies at 70

**Lat-Literal** · 26-01-17, 03:05

Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post

Nigerian funk artist who was at one time rumoured to be an invention of David Byrne has died aged 70 after a short illness.
Fantastic Man - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyL4c_LDCl0

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...-at-70-w461535

Thanks JC.

An interesting artist with a fascinating back story.

From various sources:

Onyeabor was born into a poor family, but became financially successful enough to travel to Europe to study record manufacturing. Some biographies claim that he had studied cinematography in Russia, returning to Nigeria in the 1970s to start his own music label and recording studio. He was later crowned a High Chief in Enugu, where he lived as a businessman working on government contracts and running a semolina flour mill. His business successes were such he was named West African Industrialist of the Year in 1987.

According to the Luaka Bop record label, Onyeabor "self-released eight albums between 1977 and 1985 and then became a born-again Christian, refusing to ever speak about himself or his music again." The label reported that through attempting to speak with Onyeabor himself, and by talking to people who seem to have first hand knowledge, it tried to construct an accurate biography of him for 18 months, without success......There remains debate as to whether or not Onyeabor even sang on the eight records and two singles that he self-released between 1977 and 1985......However, there is no question about his ability to push musical boundaries.......the key element was always electronics/synths.

In a 2014 interview with Madeleine Brand for KCRW’s Press Play, DJ/journalist Uchenne Ikonne – a native Nigerian himself – revealed a bit about what led Onyeabor to pursue the style of music that he was able to craft with skilled collaborators in his home studio. He noted that Onyeabor was a big fan of the 1972 Timmy Thomas hit, “Why Can’t We Live Together?” which was predominantly a synth track. Thomas, now 72, had limited success after the late 1970s but has recently been sampled by Drake on the single "Hotline Bling".

Documentary on William Onyeabor - "Fantastic Man" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiaRp0M2fxE

RIP.

**Lat-Literal** · 26-01-17, 03:55

A couple of footnotes -

1. I have read that along with the bizarre theories including that he was David Byrne and also that he had financial backing from the Soviet Union that there are even doubts about whether he was even able to play musical instruments to any great extent. If the latter is true, it triggers the thought that music making may too often have been in the hands of the musically accomplished. Where would be, I wonder, if more people with large numbers of great musical ideas but who cannot sing wonderfully well, play an instrument or read music were given access to a bunch of people who are able to do all those things and also interpret - even fully realise - the suggestions being put forward. It's an idea I really like.

2. A reminder of the Timmy Thomas track for reference - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFU-FJzPE80

William Onyeabor dies at 70

William Onyeabor dies at 70

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