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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBENSON, Bobby(b '20s, Ikoredo, Ondo, Nigeria; d '83) African composer-singer, guitarist, saxophonist, bandleader. Nicknamed Pa Bobby by fans. Began playing ballroom and swing styles in various Lagos bands; then in early '50s, infl. by several tours of E. T. Mensah and the Tempos, along with many others switched to highlife: as the style flourished throughout West Africa and began to acquire international reputation, Bobby Benson and his Combo were at the centre: eleven-piece band had seven horns, string bass, guitar, percussion. Like all the best bands, Benson's spawned others, helping careers of many musicians; among graduates: Victor Olaiya, Chief Billy Friday, Zeal Onyia, and King Pagoe, who later joined Sir Victor Uwaifo. He was active in musicians' unions, first president of Nigerian Union of Musicians '60; this union split and he was active in healing schism to form Performing Artists Association of Nigeria '81. Civil war '67--70 dealt serious blow to highlife; many musicians left Lagos and juju gained strong following in Western Nigeria; along with Olaiya and Roy Chicago, Benson was one of the few who stuck with highlife through '70s. Biggest hits of pre-war period incl. 'Taxi Driver' and 'Freedom, Yes Sir'; album Caban Bamboos was available outside Nigeria. After Benson's death tributes incl. album Bobby '83 from Sunny Ade. |