Solomon Gbadegesin Ilori (born c. 1934) is a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

drummer and percussionist who moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

in 1958 and collaborated with jazz artists such as Art Blakey and

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an interna ...

before recording his debut album for Blue Note Records in 1963.May, C
''African High Life'' All About Jazz Review
accessed January 31, 2011

Biography

Solomon Gbadegesin Ilori was born in Nigeria into a musical family, and as a child learned to play the drums, guitar and flute.
Keep (It) Swinging, July 19, 2007. He moved to the US in 1958.

Discography

As leader

*''

African High Life ''African High Life'' is the debut album by Nigerian drummer and percussionist Solomon Ilori recorded in 1963 and released on the Blue Note Records, Blue Note label.

'' (Blue Note, 1963)

As sideman

With Art Blakey *''

The African Beat ''The African Beat'' is a jazz album released by Art Blakey and The Afro-Drum Ensemble in November 1962 on Blue Note Records. He described it as the first opportunity he had to work with drummers from Africa; as a blend of American jazz with the ...

'' (Blue Note, 1962)

References

Nigerian male musicians Nigerian songwriters World music musicians Blue Note Records artists 1930s births Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Musicians from New York City Nigerian emigrants to the United States Male jazz musicians {{jazz-musician-stub