Fatai Rolling Dollar dies at 85 Fatai Rolling Dollar dies at 85

Fatai Rolling Dollar
| credits: jideodukoya.com

The death of veteran musician, Fatai Rolling Dollar, on Wednesday, signifies the end of a  persevering era,

At over 80, on stage he was as agile as a young panther. Many people could not resist dancing to his music, but only a few people could beat him in the game, as he was fond of rocking along to his own beat, occasionally clapping his legs like the fronds of a wind-driven palm tree.

While his voice remained as piercing as it was when he was a young adult, his fingers never faltered on the guitar. That is why, unlike some old guitarists, whose fingers retire ahead of them, he often went round with the instrument, even when he was not billed to perform.

He also defied ageing based on his regular appearances at many events. The same never-say-old man, who could be sighted mixing freely with young frolickers at an O’Jez Club on a Sunday, would have been at the National Theatre on Friday and probably Freedom Park, Lagos on Saturday. And he was likely to have mounted the stage at all of such centres.

In spite of such an unusual agility, coupled with artistry excellence, nature asserted itself on Wednesday when death snatched away Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju, the juju/highlife songbird popularly known as Rolling Dollar. Although some members of the entertainment community had, for some days, nursed some anxiety, following reports that he was hospitalised, the fear became real when the artiste proverbially speaking, eventually laid down his guitar.

What could also be taken as his last words exuded hope and a determination to sing on. For instance, in a recent reaction to reports that he might have slipped into a coma, the musician had noted that he had survived the illness scare and that he would soon bounce back on stage.

Signs that all was not well with him, however, became apparent when he returned from the US trip. One of our correspondents had visited him in his house in Abattoir, Agege area of Lagos. Quite unlike him, he could not grant him an interview, despite the fact that the reporter waited for the artiste – who was lying in bed – for about four hours.

Yet four days ago, he had managed to declare,  “I’m ready for my shows and I also want to assure my fans that I am doing fine right now, though I was told to always visit the hospital for further check-up.”

Although details of his death were initially scanty on Wednesday, information from the management of Daily Needs Industries Limited indicated that he died at Maritol Medical Centre, Surulere, Lagos. The company, for which Rolling Dollar was an ambassador, advertising its De-Deon’s Syrup, had intervened when he became indisposed about two weeks ago.

The Marketing Manager, Daily Needs Industries Limited, Mr. Sola Adeyi, noted in a statement on Wednesday, “The deceased had just returned from a musical tour of the United States of America where he took ill and was diagnosed of cancer. On his return to Nigeria, we took up his medical case with all the importance it deserved. We took him to Maritol Medical Centre in Surulere for proper medical care where further checks confirmed that he had cancer of the lungs. But medical doctor cares, God determines who survives. He received the best of medical care and comfort until he passed on peacefully on Wednesday.

“The death of Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar is a painful loss to the staff and management of our company. Our prayer is that may God grant his soul eternal rest and may his legacies continue to thrive forever.”

One of Rolling Dollar’s former associates, Mr. Kunle Tejuosho, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Jazzhole Records, which produced the artiste’s most successful album – Won Kere si Number Wa -  corroborated this account. He said that the musician did not go through any protracted illness as it was only a few weeks ago he returned from the US.

Tejuosho said, “Baba was a great musician. He lived a life of music. He was always ready to perform.”

Among the Ede, Osun State-born artiste’s other feats, he trained reputed juju icon, Chief Ebenezer Obey and the  late Orlando Owoh, while he was also said to have been a part of King Sunny Ade’s evolution. But his acolytes also noted that the biggest lesson he bequeathed to the industry is that of professional perseverance.

According to juju musician-turned evangelist, Rev. Idowu Animasahun, who spoke from his Badeku, Ibadan base on Wednesday, Rolling Dollar’s transition symbolises the end of an era. He recalled that even after the deceased’s contemporaries had passed on, and he (Rolling Dollar) went through a trying period, he later bounced back because he persevered.

Animasahun added, “Fatai Rolling Dollar’s death is the end of an era. He represented an old generation that defines the best of music from the country. He was with J. O. Araba when he got the nickname, Rolling Dollar. He used to play agidigbo with an object that looked like a dollar. So, whenever Araba and other members of the group wanted him to play, they would say, ‘Fatai, roll the dollar.”

Younger artistes, including Ade Bantu and Segun Adefila, also stressed that beyond professionalism, emerging acts should learn from the deceased the act of staying loyal to one’s talent.

“Baba’s life or experience teaches us that we should learn to wait for our time. If you are an artiste all you need to do is to always put in your best. One day, time will reward you,” Adefila said.

An undisquished polygamist, Fatai Rolling Dollar was born 86 years ago into the family of late Chief Olagunju of Ede in Osun State.

The artiste,  held the record as the oldest but active Nigerian musician. He was one of the pioneers of juju music genre in Nigeria.

Years back, it seemed like Pa Rolling Dollar was in the nightfall of his career, but he took the Nigerian scene by surprise as he stormed back with his hit song, ‘Won Kere si Number wa.’ The song has become the anthem of music lovers and a signature tune for some brand commercials.

An enduring influence on African music –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, joined other Nigerians and music lovers in all parts of the world in mourning the late Fatai Rolling Dollar.

In a statement by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, the President described the deceased as an accomplished and multi-talented musician who would remain an enduring influence on African music even in death.

The statement read in part, “President Jonathan shares the grief of all lovers of music over the death of the illustrious entertainer, master singer, guitarist and exponent of the native thumb piano, who continued to perform and exhibit his unqualified love for the music profession at an age when most of his contemporaries had long retired.

“The President believes that the late Fatai Rolling Dollar, who enthralled his teeming followers throughout his career of over 64 years will, even in death, remain an enduring influence on African music and that the vacuum his death has created in the Nigerian entertainment industry will be hard to fill.”

Aregbesola mourns

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, described his death as a huge loss to the entertainment sector in Nigeria.

Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director of Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, described the octogenarian high-life maestro as a testimony in perseverance and hope.

The governor said Rolling Dollar’s life sojourn demonstrated that no time is too late for man to have a breakthrough in life.

He stressed that the star of the old artiste shone at his old age when nobody ever taught of a musical success for him again after his initial popularity at the beginning of his career.

Aregbesola said, “The ace musician’s ultimate comeback is a testimony that no time is late in the life of human being.

“Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar’s story of a meteoric rise to fame is a confirmation that success can come at any time in a man’s life.

“Rolling Dollar was a force to reckon with in high life music and he would stand tall in the nation’s music hall of fame and counted among musical genii like Cardinal Rex Lawson, Bobby Benson, Adeolu Akinsanya among others.

“The government and people of the State of Osun, where the music legend hailed from, send our heartfelt condolences to the immediate and extended families of late musician, his band members, fans and the government of Lagos.”

 He was a first rate guitarist –Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has expressed sadness on the passage of the highlife icon. According to him, the loss of the “musical innovator” would reverberate around the musical world and beyond.

In a condolence letter to Mrs. Funmilayo Olagunju, the widow of the late musician, Fashola said he was a first rate guitarist under whose tutelage several other musical legends learnt to play the instrument.

According to the governor, Rolling Dollar is assured of his place in the pantheon of Nigerian musical greats with hits like ‘Won Kere si Number Wa’ and ‘Saworo’ enduring in the memory of generations to come.

“Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s,  it was impossible to escape the presence of this iconic genius across Lagos. I am pleased and gratified that in the latter part of his life Lagos State was able to reacquaint itself once again with his singular talents,’’ he said.

He was an authentic artiste –Culture Minister

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has also said the death of the veteran musician has severed an important link between the old and new generations of musicians in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja.

The minister stated, “Pa  Fatai Rolling Dollar was a copious symbol of  authentic creative talent. His exploits as a musician before and after Nigeria’s independence constitute a great legacy and a reference point for musicians, performers, policy makers and researchers. His resurgence on the nation’s music scene with several hits and memorable numbers is a demonstration of the vitality, resilience and authenticity of the Nigerian creative energy.”

 ‘COSON will ensure he is immortalised’

Expressing his shock at the news of the death of Rolling Dollar, who was the oldest member of the Copyright Society of Nigeria,COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, also noted, “He was a legend, a fantastic person with a very positive attitude to life who treated everyone with courtesy. I believe that his attitude to life was responsible for the long life he lived and that should be a lesson for all us. He was committed to the unity of the Nigerian music industry and never missed any meeting of COSON. He will be missed by a lot of people whom he inspired. COSON will ensure that Fatai Rolling Dollar is immortalised.”