High Life Pioneer Passes

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/friday_review/article02
Nigerian JuJu and High Life musician Ambrose Campbell passed away this past week in London - he was 86. Ambrose has been a dear friend since 1977 when I was working with Leon Russell and Ambrose was playing percussion in his band. I traveled to Nigeria with Ambrose and Leon in 1979 which is a whole 'nother tale but thru Ambrose,we got to hang out in Lagos with Fela Kuti,who along with King Sunny Ade,cited Ambrose as his mentor. He was the Robert Johnson or Muddy Waters figure in the Nigerian JuJu/High Life scene. Rest easy bushman.
-Johnstone-

Pete Finney · From: Nashville Tn.

What an interesting post... I love Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade but didn't know of this gentleman. I will have to find out more...

I saw Sunny Ade play twice in 1983, once in Chicago and once in Berkeley, California. The morning after the Berkeley show the band I was in ended up in the same truckstop in Redding as their bus and I had breakfast with all of them which was eye opening; I can only imagine what a musical "insiders" tour of Lagos must have been like...

Was Tom Britt playing guitar with Leon at all while you were in the band?

[This message was edited by Pete Finney on 03 July 2006 at 04:16 PM.]

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

Tom played w/Leon around 4 or 5 years later after Leon pulled up stakes and moved to 'Shville.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Thanx for the post MJ
i never heard of Ambrose but i sure do know Fela & King Sunny Ade
great musik indeed

man, jes' the other day on french tv, there was an african kid playin' real sweet on a diddley bow (or a jitterbug as some delta blacks used to call it)

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