Orlando Julius

Orlando Julius Aremu Olusanya Ekemode, known professionally as Orlando Julius is a Nigerian saxophonist, singer, bandleader, and songwriter closely associated with afrobeat music. Julius began churning out breakbeat-laden singles in the early ’60s with his 10-piece band, the Modern Aces, and then in 1966 they birthed their first LP dubbed “Super Afro Soul” where he demonstrated his uncanny skills at bridging the Atlantic by mashing Latin percussion, high-life guitars, R&B horns and a nascent funk attack—all particularly showcased on “Ijo Soul“, a song strikingly similar to James Brown’s mega-hit “I Got You (I Feel Good).” Residing in Ibadan, Orlando used his orchestral prowess to attract musicians from all over, including one trumpet-wielding Fela Kuti. Fela, f...