Rex Lawson

Rex Jim Lawson was born on March 4, 1935, in Buguma, Rivers State, into a Kalabari family. Beginning as a boy trumpeter in the Lord Eddembah band, he honed his formidable musical gifts under great bandleaders like Bobby Benson and Victor Olaiya before forming his own outfit, the Mayor's Dance Band (later the Rivers Men).

Cardinal Rex conquered West African dancehalls in the 1960s with his infectious brass harmonies, rhythmic guitar licks, and soulful lyrics sung in Kalabari, Ijaw, Igbo, Efik, and Twi. Masterpieces like Sawale (later remade as a global hit by Flavour), Yellow Sisi, and So Ala Temen earned him an undisputed throne in African music history. His brilliant life was tragically cut short in a car crash en route to a concert in Warri on January 16, 1971.