On January 16, 1971, Nigeria lost one of its greatest musicians, Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson. In this piece, PHILIP JAKPOR takes readers through the intriguing life of this highlife musician, whose songs continue to be retouched by young musicians, yet HE is largely uncelebrated.
At the time he held sway, many were in awe at his ability to compose and sing in different dialects such as Efik, Kalabari, Izon, Igbo, some Ghanaian languages and Pidgin English. Between 1960 and the troubled months leading to the Nigerian Civil War in 1967, his records were released in quick succession and were played back to back on radio. He also had several live performances in Radio Lagos studios.
It is recorded that Daba’s husband, who was a pastor in the church he attended in Buguma, noticed his budding talent, enrolled him in the church band and taught him trumpeting.At that time, the young Rex was also a member of the music band of Christ Army School, Bakana – Kalabari along with the late Sunny Brown who would later become his sidekick and the best trumpeter in the group.
As his fame grew, so also did his teeming fans give him befitting titles. At a point, he was nicknamed Pastor Jim Rex Lawson, then Bishop, before finally taking on the title ‘Cardinal’. In an uncut interview on Voice of America recorded for music specialist Leo Sarkisan in August 1965, Tunde Sowande, the Nigerian interviewer, asked Rex how he came about the title Cardinal. His reply was that his fans gave him the nickname because of the way he performed religiously.
Continuing, he said: “I recall vividly that when he was loading his bags and other things into the vehicle that Saturday evening, I had this unusual feeling of loneliness. It was unusual because I had never felt that way before. It was like a premonition. I usually travelled with him but that day due to some exigencies I could not. One thing I always did during his trips then was not to allow anyone drink, especially the drivers, because the roads were not very good.
“After leaving the band to join Third Marine Commando, I was stationed near Agbor. The accident that claimed his life occurred at Umutu area near Umunede, which was not too far from where I was stationed, so I was among the patrol team that arrived first. They were three in the Volkswagen but he was the only one that died. The vehicle had somersaulted and the splinter that killed him was not more than two inches, but it lodged in his head.
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Source: GuardianNigeria - 🏆 1. / 94 Read more »