Rex Lawson
Biography
Rex Lawson, born in 1935 in Buguma, Rivers State, was one of Nigeria's most important Highlife musicians and a pioneer of the Rivers Highlife style, sometimes called Ijaw Highlife or Dance Band Highlife. He formed his band the Riversmen in the early 1960s and became one of the leading bandleaders of the independence era, playing a sophisticated urban Highlife rooted in the music of the Niger Delta region. His music was characterised by lush brass arrangements, call-and-response vocals, and rhythms drawn from Ijaw and Kalabari cultural traditions. Lawson recorded extensively through the 1960s and 1970s on labels including Philips and Decca West Africa, releasing beloved songs such as Sawale, Yellow Sisi, and Jolly Papa that became standards in the Nigerian Highlife repertoire. He performed regularly at high-society events, hotel ballrooms, and national celebrations, establishing himself as the musical voice of Rivers State elite culture. His orchestra was known for its impeccable musicianship and the elegance of its performances. Rex Lawson was awarded the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by the Nigerian government in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Nigerian music and culture. He remained active as a musician well into his eighties and was celebrated as a living national treasure. Rex Lawson passed away in 2023 after a distinguished career spanning more than six decades. He is mourned as an irreplaceable figure in the history of Nigerian Highlife.
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Discography (11)
