HIGHLIFE music legend, Fatai Olanrewaju Olagunju (AKA Fatai Rolling Dollar is dead! He was aged 86. The Won Kere Si Number Wa crooner reportedly died early Wednesday at a Lagos hospital.
His death was confirmed to the media by one of his surviving wives, Funmilola (popularly known as Iya Jamiu). Before his eventual death, he had been admitted for some days and discharged. The legendary singer fell ill on June 5, 2013, and was rushed to the hospital by one of his wives.
Often described as the Come Back King, Fatai got his famed nickname from his days in Secondary School when he had the ability of rolling silver dollars expertly before the football teams decide which side takes the first kick. Back then he was always called by his schoolmates to roll Dollars to choose sides for football teams at leisure periods. He was born in Ede in 1926 to the family of Late Chief Olagunju.
His music break came in 1953 when he collaborated with master guitarist, J.O. Araba and tenor sax, Ishola Willie Payne to play at the exclusive Island Club in Lagos. Their Afro Skittle Band adopted Ghanaian palm wine music to Yoruba highlife sounds, a fusion that deeply influenced up-and-coming artists like Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey (whom he taught to play the guitar) as well as late Fela Kuti. It is on record that the early days of independence saw the Afro Skittles recording several 78-rpm vinyl songs for Philips, with hits like Ranka Dede and Ogba oya ya.
Rolling Dollar, however, disappeared from the music scene for about 25 years before making a great return in 2003. He also benefitted immensely from the former Lagos State governor, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who pulled him out of abject poverty and gave him a new home amongst other goodies. He has left behind a legacy of determination, as his inspired return from oblivion is a pointer that no matter how old you are, you can still be relevant if you remain focused on your goals. He is survived by three wives including a German and 16 children.
In a related development, the composer of the current National Anthem, Arise O Compatriots, Pa Benedict Odiase, is dead. He reportedly died last night. Last year he got a cheque of N150,000 from the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria as royalty for using the composition as a ringtone. The cash represents a specific point of royalty to Odiase, who retired as an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
According to our source, “The old man was sick, indebted to hospital and suffering before he died of grinding poverty”.
Army Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez, who led a 1992 attempted coup, speaks to reporters on March 26, 1994, after he was freed from jail. Chavez was freed after charges were dropped against him for leading the first of two attempted coups against the government of former President Carlos Andres Perez, who was later removed from office.