TRIBUTE TO AMBROSE CAMPBELL

This is a tribute to the grandfather of Nigerian music. Ambrose Campbell (19 August 1919 – 22 June 2006).

Campbell, who left Nigeria for UK at the peak of his career in Nigeria, is credited with forming Britain’s first ever black band, the West African Rhythm Brothers, in the 1940s. He was particularly acknowledged by Fela Kuti as “the father of modern Nigerian music”.

Ambrose Campbell worked with British jazz musicians in the 1950s, and later toured and recorded with Leon Russell in the US, where he lived for 30 years. Campbell died in June 22, 2006 at the age of 86.

Some of his great works include “E kilo f’omo de, Eni ri nkan he”.