Stephen Osita Osadebe, 1934, Atani, Anambra State, Nigeria, d. 11 May 2007, Waterbury, Connecticut, USA. Vocalist and dance band Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, one of the founding fathers of eastern Nigerian highlife, started as a percussion player, specializing in konkoma and other forms of street music. His real interest, however, lay in big band highlife, typified by the sophisticated sounds of legendary Ghanaian dance band HYPERLINK "http://www.nme.com/artists/et-mensah"E.T. Mensah and, nearer home, Stephen Amechi and other Lagos-based outfits. In 1956, when Amechi's band visited his home town, Osadebe contacted them, asking for an audition as a vocalist and percussionist. Although he impressed Amechi, and was invited to join the line-up, the band broke up and it was two years later, when Amechi re-formed the group, that Osadebe played his first gig with them. After a few months, he left to join the Central Dance Band, playing drums, congas, percussion and alto saxophone.
Osadebe released his first record under his own name, "Lagos Life Na So So Enjoyment", in 1959, with accompaniment from trumpeter Zeal Onyia's band. The single was a sizeable local hit, and encouraged Osadebe to form his own band, the Nigeria Soundmakers International. The group met with wide, but by no means universal, acclaim: indeed, when Osadebe's father first heard his son's voice on Nigerian radio, he sent a telegram informing him he had died of shame. Fortunately, Osadebe's uncle was later able to effect a reconciliation.
After that first single, Osadebe released over 30 albums, earning four gold discs and a platinum award for Osadebe '75. He remained a pillar of Nigerian highlife into the 80s, continuing to perform in a style barely changed from that of his original inspiration, E.T. Mensah. His biggest hit came in 1984 with "Osondi Owendi" although he at last slowed down a little in the 90s. Kedu America, recorded in a single day in Connecticut, USA, was another typically vibrant album. Osadebe died of lung failure in May 2007.

Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Merenge Sposa
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Onuigbo
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Nwanem Ebezina
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Nyem Obi Gi
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Osondi Owendi
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Aye Mama
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Agbalu Aka Na Azo Ani
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Onyebuchi
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Ka-Anyi Jikota
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Igochiko Meringue
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Ashawo No Bi Work
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Ndidi Bu Ogu Enu