King Sunny Ade Biography

King Sunny Ade Biography

King Sunny Adé, born Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye on September 22, 1946, is a legendary Nigerian jùjú singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Recognized as a trailblazer, he holds the distinction of being one of the first African pop musicians to achieve global success, earning acclaim as one of the most influential musicians of all time.

King Sunny Ade

King Sunny Ade

Full Name

 

Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye MFR

 
Stage Name

King Sunny Adé

 
Date of Birth

22 September 1946 (Age: 77)

 

Place of Birth

 

Ondo, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria)

 

Genres

 

Jùjú, African pop

 

Occupation

 

Singer, Musician

 

Years Active

 

1960s–present

 

Labels

 

Island Records, Sunny Alade, I.R.S., Provogue, African Songs, Sigma Park, Master Disk

 

Grammy Nominations

 

First Nigerian artist nominated in 1983 and 1998

 

Leadership Role 

 

Chairperson of the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria

 

Awards

 

AFRIMA Award (2016), Hard Rock Cafe Hall of Fame (2016), Headies Hall of Fame (2021)

 

Acting Career

 

Featured in Hollywood films, including "Breathless" and "O.C. and Stiggs"

 

 

 

 

Early Life

 

 

 

 

Born in Osogbo to a distinguished Nigerian royal family, Adé, an Omoba of the Yoruba people, inherited a rich musical heritage. His father, a church organist, and his mother, Maria Adegeye, a trader, provided the backdrop for his early exposure to diverse musical influences.

 

 

 

Musical Career