Keziah Jones
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Keziah Jones at the Eurockeennes de Belfort 2011
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Birth name
| Olufemi Sanyaolu
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Born
| (
1968-01-10
)
10 January 1968
(age 56)
Lagos
, Nigeria
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Genres
| Blues
,
Funk
,
Yoruba music
, soul
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Occupation(s)
| Musician, songwriter, photographer, poet, playwright, painter
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Instrument(s)
| Vocals, guitar, piano, bass, percussion,
clarinet
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Years active
| 1992?present
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Labels
| Delabel Records
Virgin Records
Because Music
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Website
| Official Site
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Musical artist
Keziah Jones
(born
Olufemi Sanyaolu
on 10 January 1968) is a
Nigerian
singer-songwriter and guitarist. He describes his musical style as "Blufunk", which is a fusion between raw
blues
elements and hard, edgy
funk
rhythms. Also his Nigerian roots in
Yoruba music
and
soul music
can be considered a major influence on his sound.
He is known for his distinctive style of guitar playing, including his percussive right-hand technique which is similar to a bass guitarist's
slapping
technique.
Life and career
[
edit
]
Olufemi Sanyaolu a.k.a. Keziah Jones is the son of Oshodolamu Sanyaolu; Chief of the
Yoruba people
and successful
industrialist
and Abiola Sanyaolu. Born on 10 January 1968, Jones spent his early childhood in a large family in a part of Nigeria in the city of Lagos. From a young age he was being prepared to follow his father's footsteps in the family concern and was expected to have an academic career. Therefore, his father enrolled him in a
Public School
in London and he left Nigeria at the age of eight to be educated in England.
"I had to find a way out of all that, and music was it!"
[
citation needed
]
By the age of 13 he had discovered the old school piano and taught himself how to play and write songs. Three years later he switched to the guitar, increasingly neglecting his studies. After scraping through exams he went against his father's wishes and family tradition even more by skipping school and
busking
in the streets, clubs and
London Underground
, constantly avoiding the police.
Jones led a
bohemian lifestyle
for several years instead of the one envisaged for him. "Lose all time, love your mind, free your soul!" were words from his song
Free Your Soul
. Moving from London to
Paris
and back again frequently accompanied only by his guitar, the young Jones acquired a reputation as a talented musician and charismatic performer with a unique "hard funk" style. In 1990, whilst busking in London's Portobello Road, Keziah was discovered by composer and ex-keyboard player for Sailor and
Culture Club
,
Phil Pickett
quickly evolving into full-time management of the artist.
Pickett signed Jones to a long-term songwriting agreement with Hit & Run Music Publishing (photo Billboard 1990) whose executive, Dave Massey, had recorded songs by Jones when at Chrysalis Music. Massey continued to be involved in Keziah's career for the next 8 years. After a brief but near disastrous flirtation with Capitol Records in the US, in 1992, Pickett signed Keziah to Emmanuel de Buretel's Delabel label for his debut album
Blufunk Is a Fact
. Recording in London with producer
Kevin Armstrong
, included in the worldwide success of the project was Keziah's first single "Rhythm Is Love". Jones attributes his
Parisian subway
experiences as highly instrumental to his by now blossoming career in his official biography.
[1]
By 2008, Jones had recorded five albums and one live DVD. After performing many shows and festivals throughout the world between 2009 and 2012, late in 2012 Keziah Jones was back in Lagos preparing to record his new studio album set for worldwide release on
Because Music
in 2013
Influences
[
edit
]
Keziah often cites
Fela Kuti
,
Miles Davis
and
Jimi Hendrix
as important influences.
Keziah Jones also draws, paints and writes poetry. He is a photographer and has produced short films, including one entitled
BLACKSPEEDTEXT
This film, his music and the other facets of his artistic life reflect his experiences on the streets.
Personal life
[
edit
]
Keziah was married to Anglo-Nigerian singer Akure Wall in 1994.
They separated in 1996.
[2]
On 14 January 2012 Keziah married Hauwa Mukan, they separated in December 2013.
[2]
Discography
[
edit
]
Studio albums
[
edit
]
Compilation albums
[
edit
]
- Frinigro Interstellar
(1991)
- Live
(1993)
- The African Anarchist
(1999)
Videography
[
edit
]
- Live at the Elysee Montmartre
(14 June 2004)
Singles
[
edit
]
Filmography
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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International
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National
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Artists
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Other
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