Tunde Baiyewu
Encyclopedia
Tunde Baiyewu is a British singer
of Nigeria
n descent and is a member of the easy listening
duo
, Lighthouse Family
. In 2004 he embarked on a solo
career, releasing the album
, Tunde.
, but moved to Nigeria
at the age of five after the death of his father. Ten years later he moved back to England
, attending the University of Northumbria in Newcastle upon Tyne
, and obtained a degree in accounting. He saw posters advertising for a singer and subsequently met Paul Tucker
– their partnership began, and they formed Lighthouse Family
.
In 2005, he appeared on the BBC Television
one-off special, Strictly African Dancing. He came last, but he learned the Bata dance in the process.
On 12 November 2006, Baiyewu appeared in an ITV
documentary called Faith in Music. This documentary charted the life and music of Baiyewu, from his roots in Africa, through Lighthouse Family and into his current solo incarnation. It also showed Baiyewu performing an acoustic
set featuring tracks from his latest album.
In January 2007, Baiyewu held his first tour in over four years (the last time being with Lighthouse Family). He did four concerts from 13–16 January 2007 in Edinburgh
, Manchester
, Wolverhampton
and London respectively. He combined his solo material with Lighthouse Family hits and dedicated each and every song to his nephew Funto.
having completed an Accountancy degree in 1992.
In March 2007, Baiyewu married Tope Adeshina, a young Nigerian model in Lagos
, Nigeria. They live in the UK.
His mother went on to marry former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who is of the Yoruba
ethnic group.
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n descent and is a member of the easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
, Lighthouse Family
Lighthouse Family
Lighthouse Family are a British musical duo that rose to prominence in the mid-1990s and remained active until the early 2000s. Vocalist Tunde Baiyewu and keyboardist Paul Tucker formed the act in 1993 in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK after meeting while studying at university...
. In 2004 he embarked on a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career, releasing the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Tunde.
Career
Baiyewu was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, but moved to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
at the age of five after the death of his father. Ten years later he moved back to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, attending the University of Northumbria in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, and obtained a degree in accounting. He saw posters advertising for a singer and subsequently met Paul Tucker
Paul Tucker (musician)
Paul Tucker is a record producer and songwriter. He is best known as one half of the British duo, Lighthouse Family. He attended Newcastle University, from which he graduated with a double first class Honours degree in French and German.Currently, Tucker is playing piano with his new band, The...
– their partnership began, and they formed Lighthouse Family
Lighthouse Family
Lighthouse Family are a British musical duo that rose to prominence in the mid-1990s and remained active until the early 2000s. Vocalist Tunde Baiyewu and keyboardist Paul Tucker formed the act in 1993 in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK after meeting while studying at university...
.
In 2005, he appeared on the BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
one-off special, Strictly African Dancing. He came last, but he learned the Bata dance in the process.
On 12 November 2006, Baiyewu appeared in an ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
documentary called Faith in Music. This documentary charted the life and music of Baiyewu, from his roots in Africa, through Lighthouse Family and into his current solo incarnation. It also showed Baiyewu performing an acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
set featuring tracks from his latest album.
In January 2007, Baiyewu held his first tour in over four years (the last time being with Lighthouse Family). He did four concerts from 13–16 January 2007 in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
and London respectively. He combined his solo material with Lighthouse Family hits and dedicated each and every song to his nephew Funto.
Personal life
He is an alumnus of Northumbria UniversityNorthumbria University
Northumbria University is an academic institution located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. It is a member of the University Alliance.- History :...
having completed an Accountancy degree in 1992.
In March 2007, Baiyewu married Tope Adeshina, a young Nigerian model in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria. They live in the UK.
His mother went on to marry former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who is of the Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
ethnic group.
Albums
| Date | UK Chart Statistics | Tracks |
|---|---|---|
October 2004 |
|
|
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/africalives/myafrica/blogs/005081/
- http://www.nigerianentertainment.com/NEMay05/tundebayiewu.htm
- http://arts.guardian.co.uk/homeentertainment/story/0,,1322024,00.html