Cardinal Jim Rex Lawson Biography

 

Real Name Rex Jim Lawson Aliases Cardinal Rex

Spouse(s) Chief (Mrs.) Regina Rex Lawson (0 - )

Labels Akpola Records

 
Probably the unrivalled philosopher, king of Highlife Music in Nigeria, Cardinal Jim Rex Lawson was a first generation highlife artiste. Born of a Kalabari father and an Ibo mother in Rivers State in the 30s, Lawson spent his teenage years in the Camerouns and Nigeria.

Acclaimed for his versatility as a composer, Lawson began his musical odyssey in the50s. and prior to his demise in an auto-accident on Agbor-warri road after the civil war in 1971, Lawson had about 30 records including JollyPapa and Iworiwo in his repertoire.

Survived by a wife and two daughters, Lawson bagged a posthumous award from PMAN in 1989 for his immense contribution to Nigeria music.

One of the best-known highlife musicians of the 1960s, Lawson played with Sammy Obot, Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya, Chris Ajiko, and other Ghanaian and Nigerian musicians and bands.

His greatest success came as the leader of the Mayors Dance Band; their recorded hits include “So ala teme”, “Yellow Sisi”, “Gowon Special”, and “Jolly Papa”.

His most popular hit is probably Love “Adure”, which is still a sure floor-filler in Nigeria to this day.
A highly emotional and deep musician, Lawson was known to weep and shed tears while singing his own songs, notably the haunting “So ala teme”.

Sir Maliki Showman, the famous Nigerian tenor saxophonist who played with Bobby Benson, Victor Uwaifo and Rex Lawson, remembers Lawson as always placing music over money. Lawson is famed for his infectious gregariousness, his musical vision, talent, perseverance and individuality.

Lawson died tragically in 1971 in a car accident on his way to play a show in Warri, Nigeria.
His music is loved to this day in Nigeria. His songs are regularly performed and danced at live band shows in Nigeria, and a number of young musicians have redone some of his old hits, and his relevance continues to be felt. The young new generation highlife musician CHE & the Continuous Highlife Evolution, for instance, dedicated his hit debut album PALMGROOVE to Rex Lawson.

With highlife gradually experiencing a new slow resurgence in Nigeria and Ghana, the power and relevance, and magic, of people like Rex Lawson – whose music have survived and, like sweet palm wine, grown more intoxicating – becomes more evident.