By BENJAMIN NJOKU

The legendary Orlando Julius took his audience back in time as he performed his evergreen songs at a show  tagged, “a night of engaging and pulsating live performance”, which held  yesterday evening at the prestigious  Prince Of Anthony Hotel, Anthony Village, Lagos.

The event saw the convergence of the icons of highlife, jazz, contemporary Afropop music and music aficionados to celebrate over half- a century of Orlando Julius’ musical achievements.

Orlando

Performing alongside the musical legend were his vivacious wife, Latoya and such notable artistes as Yinka Davies, among others.

Meanwhile, the highpoint of the event was the paying of tributes in songs  to the departed Afro-highlife legend, Fatai Rolling Dollars by Orlando Julius himself.  It was indeed a moment of spiritual reunion with the dead.

Indeed, attendees will not forget the melodious music of the ageless Orlando Julius in a hurry.

Both a pioneer and innovator, Orlando Julius Ekemode has been vital to the creation, growth, and popularisation of Afro-pop. He has also had great influence on American soul and the parallel roots of modern Afrobeat and jazz. His hit track ‘Back to the Roots’ which he did with the American singer, Lamont Dozier and his group, remains evergreen.

Flagging off his musical career  in the ’60s, Orlando Julius fused traditional African sounds and rhythms with those of American pop, soul, and R&B. He, in his early life as a musician  played with such popular  highlife musicians as Rex Williams, Eddie Okonta, the American Jazz great Louis Armstrong, V.S. Akinbosun, I.K. Dairo among others.