Mr Adekolu Modupe (aka Ade Wesco) was born over 70 years ago in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo state. He had his basic education in the same town before he started pursuing a career in music.
Contrary to popular belief, it is on record that this juju/highlife/traditional folk musician was never under the apprenticeship of any other musician.
Ade Wesco, a self-taught guitarist, started his career as a young man sitting very close to a popular market square known as Oja Olorisa in Ifon, where he would sing and play his guitar to entertain passersby.
Notable among performances of Ade Wesco was during the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970 when he entertained the Army. His shows for the Nigerian Army at that time were facilitated by his fellow socialite kinsman; Chief Babatunde Awodeyi.
This legend has not only entertained people in the country, but he has also taken his trade to other parts of the world including Europe.
Multi-talented Ade Wesco and his Destiny Dandies Band, which he formed about five decades ago, waxed dozens of LPs for popular audio/video company, Ibukun Orisun Iye, with the song, Aye Wa Adun, being one of the most popular out of his many songs. He also waxed other LPs for other companies.
Ade Wesco took a hiatus from the music industry for many years due to some personal reasons. He however bounced back years ago with an album titled Endurance, waxed for Malio Entertainments and produced by the King Of Lyrics himself, Olayiwola Adisa (Lai Addis).
The musical skills and dexterity of Ade Wesco can compete with even the younger ones in the music industry. The only thing that makes his heart glad is music.
One of his major but last performance was at the Ariya Eko Music Festival, an indigenous musical concert put together by one of Africa’s largest music collectors and preservators, Evergreen Musical Company, in partnership with the Lagos State government.
May his gentle soul rest in peace. Ade Wesco was 79 years old.
•Esho is the Managing Director, Evergreen Musical Company, Lagos.
