OLIVER DE COQUE ''CLASSIC HITS'' (NIGERIA,2001) @ [192k]

OLIVER DE COQUE

''CLASSIC HITS''

(NIGERIA, 2001) @

Biography

Nigerian guitarist King (Dr.) Chief Oliver de Coque (born Oliver Sunday Akanite) is one of Africa's most prolific recording artists. Since releasing his debut album Messiah Messiah in 1977, Coque has recorded no fewer than 73 albums in his homeland. His dance-inspiring "Ogene" style of Nigerian high life, which blends modern high life and traditional Igbo music, has produced such hits as "Biri Ka Mbiri, " "Ana Enwe, " "Naukwa Mmwanwu, " and "Identity, " which remained on Radio Nigeria 2's Top Ten throughout most of 1981.

Playing music since the age of 11, Coque was taught to play the guitar by Piccolo, a Zairean guitarist living in Nigeria. Serving an apprenticeship with juju stars Sunny Agaga and Jacob Oluwale, he was a star by his late teens. Attracting international attention with a London performance in 1973, he played on Prince Nico Mbarga's album Sweet Mother four years later. Coque is often backed by his brother Eugene's Igede International Band. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi

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King (Dr.) Chief Oliver de Coque released his first album in 1976 after learning to play music from a Congolese guitarist. Since that time he has released 73 albums which demonstrate his "Ogene" style of Nigerian highlife.

Oliver sent his junior brother Eugene de Coque to Los Angeles a few years ago to maintain a presence in the US and to "bring highlife to new levels". He is dedicated to supporting the Igbo culture in Los Angeles.

Icon, Oliver De Coque, Dies At 61

Chika Otuchikere

22 June 2008

Abuja — The nation's entertainment industry has been thrown into another spell of mourning following the death yesterday of Chief Oliver Sunday Akanite, popularly known as King (Dr.) Chief Oliver de Coque.

Oliver de Coque died in a hospital at Gbagada in Lagos, after he was struck by heart failure. He was said to have vomited incessantly following the heart attack before finally giving up the ghost.

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