Sunday Adeniyi, popularly known as King Sunny Ade is a Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye is a Nigerian juju singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He was born on September 22, 1946, into the Adegeye royal family in Ondo State, Nigeria.
He is one of the most influential musicians of all time, and the most popular Nigerian Juju Music performer. The New York Times called him one of the greatest bandleaders in history.
He attended the African and Methodist School, then he proceeded to St. Charles Grammar School for his secondary education.
King Sunny Ade has loved music from childhood and aspired to be a performer. But he was not allowed because he was a prince. This is because, according to the Yoruba culture, a prince does not perform, but performs, for entertainment. However, he will sneak out to dance and sing with music bands.
He later left Grammar School and joined the Idou Woye music group. He then moved to Lagos and joined Moses Olaiya’s Federal Rhythm Dandles, a high-life band.
He left the Olaiya band and formed the Green Spots band in 1967. He later formed a record label in 1974. He quit Olaiya’s band in 1966 and formed his band, the Green Spots. However, he released a single titled, ‘Challenge Cup’, and over 500,000 copies were sold.
Between 1973 and 1974, King Sunny Ade changed his band from Green Spots to African Beats, and later to King Sunny Ade and his African Beats in 1985.
In 1982, he and his band went on tour of the North and South America and Europe. He soon became famous for his dancing moves and guitar. Playing styles. He released the Syncho System after his tour in 1983. King Sunny Ade was the first Nigerian to be nominated for a Grammy. In 2009, he was appointed a visiting music professor at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
King has received numerous awards during his career. He was inducted into the Hard Rock Cafe Hall of Fame and The Headies Hall of Fame (The Headies 2020) in 2016 and 2021 respectively.
He has seven wives and over fifteen children.