Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe was born in March, 1936 and died
on May 11, 2007. He was popularly known as just Osadebe in his life time.
Osadebe was an Igbo Nigerian highlife musician. He is a
native of Atani in
Ogbaru Local Government Area of Nigeria. He was the leader in the highlife genre ever in Nigeria.
Osadebe is classified in the line of singers and dancers in
Nigeria. His genre, Highlife encompassed Igbo musical elements along side
calypso, samba, bolero, rumba, jazz and waltz.
Osadebe developed interest in music career when he was in
high school in Onitsha, a major commercial city near his home town Atani. He
joined The Empire Rhythm Orchestra, led by E. C. Arinze, where learned much of
his music skills.
When he left the high school, Osadebe started his career
officially when he was 23 years old, performing at nightclubs in Lagos to the
extent that he was nicknamed ‘Doctor of Hypertension' by music critics and fans
alike.
Osadebe played with Stephen Amache Band for a while, then continued his
career with the Central Dance Band. In the year 1958, Osadebe released his
first album. In 1964 he started his own band, Soundmakers International.
Osadebe spends most of his time playing highlife music; consequently, he is
considered to be one of the top highlife musicians.
In 1981, Osadebe was awarded a
gold disc for the LP Onu Kwulonjo. By the mid-'80s, Osadebe was at the height of his career selling over
700,000 records with his hit album Osondi Owendi.
In the course of his entire music career Osadebe wrote over 500 songs out of which about half were released
commercially.
During the Nigerian Civil War and even after the war,
Osadebe continued his live performances.
Osadebe died in St. Mary's Hospital Waterbury, Connecticut
on May 11, 2007 after suffering from severe respiratory disease.
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