West African Rhythm Brothers

Biography

Ambrose Campbell, born Oladipupo Adekoya Campbell on August 19, 1919, in Lagos, Nigeria, grew up in a Christian family where his father was a preacher. He sang in the church choir but rebelled by performing palm-wine music, earning the nickname 'Rosi' to hide it from his family, who eventually evicted him. Under the protection of nationalist Herbert Macaulay, he worked as a printer and joined the Jolly Boys Orchestra with guitarist Brewster Hughes before moving to London via the Merchant Navy during World War II.[1][2][4]

In 1946, Campbell and Hughes formed the West African Rhythm Brothers, Britain's first black band, debuting publicly at VE Day celebrations in Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square. The group provided music for Les Ballets Nègres, secured a residency at Soho's Abalabi club (later Club Afrique) from 1952, and blended palm-wine, jùjú, calypso, and mento styles while collaborating with British jazz musicians like Ronnie Scott. They recorded numerous singles for Melodisc in the 1950s-1960s amid experiences of racism in postwar Britain.[1][2][3][4]

Campbell toured Italy, released the 1968 album Highlife Today, then moved to the US in 1972, recording and touring with Leon Russell (as his 'spiritual adviser') and Willie Nelson on One for the Road. Acknowledged by Fela Kuti as 'the father of modern Nigerian music,' he influenced jùjú artists, settled in Nashville, returned to the UK in 2004, and died on June 22, 2006, in Plymouth.[1][2]

Fun Facts

• Performed under the alias 'Rosi' as a teenager to hide palm-wine music gigs from his preacher family.[2]
• Attacked by racist thugs at a London Underground station after forming an early band; bandmate Brewster Hughes was imprisoned for shooting an assailant.[1]
• Reported dead in Nigerian newspapers after 1968 album, but had actually moved to the US.[1]
• Debuted West African Rhythm Brothers at 1945 VE Day celebrations in London's Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.[1][2][4]

Members

• Ambrose Campbell

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Herbert Macaulay - Provided protection and housing after family eviction (None musical) [1930s]

Key Collaborators

• Brewster Hughes - Guitarist and co-founder of West African Rhythm Brothers (West African Rhythm Brothers band and recordings) [1946-1950s]
• Harry Beckett - Trumpeter in West African Rhythm Brothers (Band performances and Melodisc singles) [1940s-1950s]
• Willy Roachford - Saxophonist in West African Rhythm Brothers (Band performances) [1940s-1950s]
• Ade Bashorun - Bongo player and member of West African Rhythm Brothers (Band performances and Melodisc singles) [1940s-1950s]
• Leon Russell - Recorded and toured as percussionist; called Campbell 'spiritual adviser' (One for the Road album) [1970s-1980s]
• Ronnie Scott - Associated jazz musician during Soho residency (Collaborative performances) [1950s]

Artists Influenced

• Fela Kuti - Acknowledged Campbell as 'father of modern Nigerian music' (None specified) [1960s onward]
• King Sunny Ade - Inspired in developing jùjú music (Jùjú ensembles in 1970s) [Late 1960s-1970s]
• Ebenezer Obey - Inspired in developing jùjú music (Jùjú ensembles in 1970s) [Late 1960s-1970s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz