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Victor Abimbola Olaiya , (31 December 1930 – 12 February 2020), also known as Dr Victor Olaiya, was a Nigerian trumpeter who played in the highlife style. Though famous in Nigeria during the 1950s and early 1960s, Olaiya received little recognition outside his native country. Alhaji Alade Odunewu of the Daily Times called him "The Evil Genius of Highlife."
Olaiya came from a very rich family. His father's house, Ilojo Bar, stood at 2 Bamgbose Street, Lagos Island, until it was demolished in September 2016.
In 1954, Olaiya formed his own band, the Cool Cats, playing popular highlife music. His band was chosen to play at the state ball when Queen Elizabeth II of the UK visited Nigeria in 1956, and later to play at the state balls when Nigeria became independent in 1960 and when Nigeria became a republic in 1963. On the latter occasion, Olaiya shared the stage with the American jazz musician Louis Armstrong. During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–70, Olaiya was given the rank of a lieutenant colonel (honorary) in the Nigerian army, and his band played for the troops at various locations. The Cool Cats later travelled to the Congo to perform for United Nations troops.
Olaiya renamed his band to the All Stars Band when they played the 1963 International Jazz Festival in Czechoslovakia.
Olaiya also ran a business that imported and distributed musical instruments and accessories in West Africa, he also established the Stadium Hotel in Surulere.
Olaiya was bestowed the second rank (officer) of the national Order of the Niger award. Victor Olaiya: Nigeria's 'evil genius' trumpeter who influenced Fela Kuti, BBC, 21 March 2020 Victor Olaiya, Veteran Highlife Musician Dies At 89, Daily Independent, 12 Feb 2020 In 1990, he received a fellowship of the Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria. For a period, he was also president of the Nigerian Union of Musicians.
Olaiya died on 12 February 2020 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, at age 89.
His musical style was influenced by James Brown, with horn parts harmonised in Brown's style, as opposed to the mostly unison lines of Afrobeat. The music includes the swinging percussion of Tony Allen, but not the syncopated style that Allen later pioneered.
Olaiya released an album with Ghanaian highlife musician E. T. Mensah.
Both the drummer Tony Allen and vocalist Fela Kuti played with Olaiya and went on to achieve individual success.
Personal life
Olaiya had several wives. He had children and grandchildren. One of his daughters, Moji Olaiya, was a Nollywood actress. He sang with his son Bayode Olaiya.
Music
Olaiya's music bridges between highlife and what would become Afrobeat.
Discography
A partial list of albums:
Late 1950s/Early 1960s Victor Olaiya & his Cool Cats Odale Ore b/w Mofe Muyon 10-inch 78 Badejo's Sound Studios BBA 150 1960s? Various Artists Catchy Rhythms from Nigeria – Vol. 2 10-inch LP Philips West Africa Lagos P 13401 1961 Dr. Victor Olaiya & his All Stars Olaiya's Victories 10-inch LP Philips Netherlands 13403 Early 1960s Various Artists Catchy Rhythms From Nigeria – Vol. 3 (10-inch LP Philips West Africa Lagos 13404 1960s Victor Olaiya & his Cool Cats Afro-Rhythm Parade Vol. 2 7-inch EP Philips Netherlands 420001 1960s? Victor Olaiya & his All Stars Oruku Tiniditindi / Iye Jemila 7-inch 45 Philips Lagos 303 015 1960s Victor Olaiya & his All Stars Pambotoriboto b/w Moonlight Highlife 7-inch 45 Philips Lagos 382357
1960s Victor Olaiya & his All Stars Feso J'aiye / Asian Udo 7-inch 45 Philips Lagos 382 397 1960s Victor Olaiya & his All Stars Kosowo Lode b/w Ewelewekuewele 7-inch 45 Philips Lagos 382739 1960s Victor Olaiya & his All Stars Afro-Rhythm Parade Vol. 7 7-inch EP Philips Lagos 420014 Late 1960s? Various Artists West Africa's Big Sound 7-inch EP Philips Lagos 420023 PE 1982 Dr. Victor Olaiya In the Sixties LP Polydor Lagos POLP 066 1982 Dr. Victor Olaiya Highlife Reincaration LP Polydor Lagos POLP 073 1983 Dr. Victor Olaiya Ilu Le O (Country Hard 0!) LP Polydor Lagos POLP 096 1983 Various Artists African Music LP Vertigo Netherlands 814 480-1 1983 E.T. Mensah & Dr. Victor Olaiya Highlife Giants of Africa Vol. 1 LP Polydor Lagos POLP 102 1986 Dr. Victor Olaiya Papingo Davalaya LP Polydor Lagos POLP 156 2001? Dr. Victor Olaiya The Best of Dr. Victor Olaiya – 3 Decades of Highlife CD Premier Music Lagos KMCD003 2003? Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya Highlife in The 80's –
The Best of Dr. Victor Olaiya
Vol. 2 – Evil Genius of HighlifeCD Premier Music Lagos KMCD007 2002? Various Artists High Life Kings Vol. 1 CD Premier Music Lagos KMCD 01 2002? Various Artists High Life Kings Vol. 2 CD Premier Music Lagos KMCD 02 2003 Various Artists The Rough Guide to Highlife CD World Music Network UK 2003? Various Artists The Kings of Highlife CD Wrasse Records UK WRASS 097 2005 Victor Olaiya & his International All Stars
/ St. AugustineLet Yourself Go/There Was a Time / Papa de Love 7-inch45 Soundway Records UK SNDW 7002 2009 Victor Olaiya's All Stars Soul International Victor Olaiya's All Stars Soul International CD Vampisoul Spain VAMPI 107) 2012 Various Artists The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Africa CD World Music Network UK RGNET 1270
Further reading
External links
Categories: Yoruba Musicians, 1930 Births, 2020 Deaths, People From Calabar, 20th-century Nigerian Musicians, 21st-century Nigerian Musicians, Yoruba-language Singers Of Nigeria, People Of The Nigerian Civil War, Nigerian Hoteliers, Musicians From Lagos, Nigerian Highlife Musicians, 20th-century Nigerian Male Musicians, 21st-century Nigerian Male Musicians, Nigerian Trumpeters, Highlife Musicians
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