Babatunde Olatunji
| Babatunde Olatunji | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born |
April 7, 1927 Ajido, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Origin | New York City |
| Died | April 6, 2003 (aged 75) |
| Genres | World music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion, djembe |
| Years active | 1959–2003 |
| Labels | Columbia, CBS, Narada, Virgin, EMI, Chesky |
| Website | olatunjimusic |
Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist, and recording artist.
Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, a small town near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nigeria. A member of the Yoruba people, Olatunji was introduced to traditional African music at an early age. He read in Reader's Digest magazine about the Rotary International Foundation's scholarship program, and applied for it. He went to the United States of America in 1950.
Olatunji received a Rotary scholarship in 1950 and was educated at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he desired to, but never sang in the Morehouse College Glee Club. Olatunji was a good friend of Glee Club director Dr. Wendell P. Whalum and collaborated with him on a staple of the choir's repertoire, "Betelehemu", a Nigerian Christmas carol. After graduating from Morehouse, he went on to New York University to study public administration. There, he started a small percussion group to earn money on the side while he continued his studies.
After hearing Olatunji perform with the 66 piece Radio City Music Hall orchestra Columbia Records A&R man John Hammond signed Olatunji to the Columbia label in 1957.
In 1959 Olatunji released his first of six records on the Columbia label, called Drums of Passion. Drums of Passion became a major hit and remains in print; it introduced many Americans to world music. Drums of Passion also served as the band's name. Notable members included; Clark Terry, Bill Lee, Horace Silver, Yusef Lateef, Sikiru Adepoju, Charles Lloyd, Sanga of The Valley (Anthony Francis), and William "Spaceman" Patterson among others.
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