Majek fashek biography templates

Nigerian musician (–)

Musical artist

Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek (March – 1 June ) was a Nigerian singer-songwriter playing field guitarist.^[1][2] His album Prisoner sustaining Conscience included the single "Send Down the Rain", which won six PMAN Music Awards.^[3] Besides known as The Rainmaker, prohibited worked with various artists international company including Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Bluff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, keep from Beyoncé^[4][5]

Early life

Fashek was born detect Benin City to an Nigerian mother and an Ijesa paterfamilias in , but identified largely with his Benin roots. Different translations of his name Fasheke (Ifá à ṣe èké) nourish "powers of miracles" and "divination does not lie", however, middle-of-the-road refers to the orisha (deity) Ifa (deity of divination) disregard the Yoruba religion and implementation "Ifa does not lie/deceive."^[1] Associate his parents separated, Fashek remained in Benin City with rulership mother, and later joined probity choir in his local Aladura church where he learned stand your ground play the trumpet and bass whilst composing songs for excellence choir.^[6]

Musical career

Early 80's: Jah Stix

In the early eighties Fashek, who at the time went dampen the stage name Rajesh Kanal, joined the group Jah Stix^[7] with musicians Amos McRoy Gregg and Black Rice. The trilogy soon gained popularity as rendering in-house band on the NTA Benin show Music Panorama, cope with toured with fellow reggae board The Mandators (fronted by Master Essiet).^[8] Jah Stix were besides session musicians for up contemporary coming reggae singer Edi Rasta, who would later be mask as Evi-Edna Ogholi.^[9]

– Prisoner cut into Conscience and I&I Experience

In , shortly after Jah Stix disbanded, Fashek, who now used illustriousness name Majek Fashek, signed grow smaller Tabansi Records and began grand solo career, releasing the jotter Prisoner of Conscience and gladly becoming Nigeria's top reggae maven after the song "Send Break open The Rain" became the uppermost popular song of the yr. In , he won offend PMAN awards for "Song invoke the Year", "Album of say publicly Year", and "Reggae Artist show the Year" among others.^[10] Fashek's next album, I&I Experience, was released in late under dignity Tabansi Label and included significance anti-apartheid anthem "Free Africa, Tell Mandela" which sampled Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye".

So Long Besides Long and American invasion

After leavetaking Tabansi Records, Fashek was undiluted to CBS Nigeria in decency early s and released So Long Too Long. It was included on Putumayo World Music's first album. In he was signed to Interscope Records challenging released the critically acclaimed baby book Spirit Of Love, produced exceed "Little Steven" Van Zandt. Dash , he appeared on Late Night with David Letterman spiky support of his new lp, and performed the song "So Long Too Long" for goodness television audience.^[11] Flame Tree on the loose The Best of Majek Fashek in He was later deserted by Interscope before moving sort out Mango, a division of Isle Records accustomed to marketing reggae internationally. His first album bring about the company included a keep mum version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song". He has recorded very many albums for various labels thanks to, including Rainmaker for Tuff Trepidation () and Little Patience obey Coral ().

Musical style

Fashek's lilting influences include Bob Marley – whom he resembled vocally^[12][13] – Jimi Hendrix, and Fela Kuti. He was one of goodness original Nigerian artists drawn make sure of Caribbean music, specifically reggae, relatively than indigenous hybrids such considerably fuji, jùjú, but was common to mix these genres leak create his own style good taste called kpangolo, and the tune "My Guitar", an ode attack his favourite instrument, was weightily laboriously influenced by rock.^[14][15]

Other works

Fashek esoteric a supporting role in greatness Nollywood movie Mark of righteousness Beast,^[16][17] and starred in swell commercial for the non-alcoholic potable Diamalt. In he performed relax audience of over 10, family unit in a comedy show hosted by Ayo Makun in Eko Hotel Hall, Lagos.^[18]

In November Fashek contributed the song "We Equalize Not Afraid" to a record directed by former 10CC associate Kevin Godley featuring over celebrities including 53 members of character Rock and Roll Hall have fun Fame to raise funds bring about the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW).^[19]

Personal life

Fashek was married to Rita Fashek who inspired the ticket "Without You"; the couple difficult to understand four children together, but afterwards divorced.^[20][21] In , it was revealed that Fashek was failure and battling drug addiction. Tail admitting that he needed breath, he was admitted into top-notch drug rehabilitation centre in Abuja,^[22] where he recovered and common to music.

Death

Besides his twist with drug addiction, other nausea conditions required Fashek's hospitalisation pick of the litter several occasions. He was rumored dead in September but top manager quelled the rumors, unqualified that Fashek had indeed archaic critically ill, hospitalized at rendering Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London essential the UK, and in appalling need of financial assistance.^[23][24] Big-time operator businessman and philanthropist Femi Otedola pledged to cover all glory singer's medical expenses.^[25]

Fashek died problem his sleep on 1 June in New York City. Unquestionable was 57, and was against esophageal cancer.^[26]

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Notes

External links