Download Selected Bobby Benson Songs – Biography Included
If you are looking for where to download Bobby Benson songs, you are in the right place.
Who was Bobby Benson?
Bernard Olabinjo Benson, popularly known as Bobby Benson, was a Nigerian entertainer and musician famous from the 50s till his death in 1983. He was born on the 11th of April, 1922 in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
He learned tailoring during his secondary school days and later tried boxing as a profession for a while after leaving school. He was also a sailor in the Merchant Navy.
When Bobby Benson’s song, ‘Taxi Driver’, comes up on your stereo as you frantically search through radio stations for traffic updates while you sit behind the wheels on a hot Monday afternoon in Lagos, you’d be forgiven for not quickly changing the dial.
Before you continue reading, download some of Bobby Benson songs below.
Download Bobby Benson Songs
Gentleman Bobby
Taxi Driver (I Don’t Care)
Okokoko (Nigeria)
In 1944, Benson left his sailing profession in London, where he made his entertainment debut with the Negro Ballet, touring several European capitals.
He met his wife, Cassandra (half-Scottish and half-Caribbean in origin), while in Britain, and on return to Nigeria in 1947 they established the Bobby Benson and Cassandra Theatrical Party.
He started by playing standard big-band music, but later introduced African themes, as a pioneer of Highlife music in Nigeria.
His song “Taxi Driver” became a classic hit in West Africa, covered by several other musicians, blending Caribbean and jazz styles. Other hits were “Gentleman Bobby” and “Iyawo se wo lose mi”, “Mafe”, “Nylon Dress” and “Niger Mambo”.
Before Dapo ‘D’banj’ Oyebanjo earned the moniker, ‘The Entertainer’ in the early to late 2000s, Bobby Benson was known as the ultimate showman in music.
He earned his stripes as a singer, comedian, performer and an overall entertainer. His happy go lucky demeanour earned him a show on NTA in the 1970s, where he performed as a stand-up comedian and magician, while he also sang.
Benson became the first president of the Nigerian Musicians Union when it was formed in 1960. He died in Lagos on May 14, 1983 aged 62. He fathered as many as 10 children.
Though highlife as a genre of music is struggling for relevance among a younger generation, Bobby Benson’s name will remain engraved on the walls of Nigeria’s entertainment industry for eternity.
Thanks for reading, OldNaija.
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