My impression of Pa Rolling Dollar was one of watching history of Nigerian music in the flesh as well as a fond amusement at his 'Swagger'...from his very youthful jeans,shirts,sneakers,dark sunglasses and the Jay-Z cum Kanye West Blings chains. He also struck me as quite philosophical about his earlier misfortune or long break from music.
He showed me some pictures of his earlier life and an instrument that takes one back to the '60s and we chatted in a relaxed atmosphere with his amiable wife and less than 2 years (I can't remember exactly) son present.He played with the boy,tickled him,made faces and sang to the Toddler who was very glad and responded with glee.The very friendly and family side of the legendary musician was all there to see. He shared jokes with his wife and I with the ease of someone who has a very youthful mind.He was in his late '70 then and I was about to ask him why have more kids when it happened.
The piercing cry of the little boy broke the silence of the entire estate and and before any of us (his wife and I) could react,Pa Rolling Dollar bolted out of the door so fast that I could not imagine anyone after 40 running like that. The baby had crawled away from his mum and hanging between the Railing by the corridor and the external door,so would have landed on the floor if not for the athleticism of the father who got there fast.
Pa Rolling Dollar was livid, he rounded on his wife and gave her a piece of his mind.She had just left the baby for like 2 minutes to get something(maybe a nappy),in the room when the mishap occurred.
I did not envy that woman that day and as I watched Pa Rolling Dollar trying to compose himself,that he loved his kids was undeniable,he cradled the child in his hands for the rest of my stay as if he could not trust the mum with him.
When he returned to his jovial self,I asked him why he is still having a baby at his age..he looked at me with those wise.mischievous and quite kind eyes,then replied that he loves kids and won't stop having them as long as he can.He tried to list some of them and their ages and so on while we talked.
He got another not quite long after that as he promised.Maybe even more.-KLAXI
FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE:
ONE of Nigeria’s oldest practising musicians, Fatai Rolling Dollar, is dead. He died at the age of 85. The respected artiste, was receiving treatment at a private Lagos hospital, Marritol, Surulere, where he had been hospitalised for about three weeks.
His wife, Zainab Olagunju, who confirmed the news in a telephone interview, said that Rolling Dollars had been receiving treatment in America as he fell ill while there. She said that a few days after his arrival in Nigeria, he had complained of inability to walk properly. With this complaint, he was promptly taken to the private hospital at Ogunlana Drive in Surulere area of Lagos State. She also said that Fatai’s medical bills had, till now, been footed by an organisation for whom he worked as a model in an advertisement.
A week ago, news had broken from some media sources who spread rumours about his death, an allegation which the veteran artiste denied vehemently.
Rolling Dollar, whose voice was not audible when speaking to the Nigerian Tribune said that he would continue with his shows, which had stopped as a result of his illness.
Meanwhile, encomiums have been pouring in from his colleagues in the music industry in Nigeria and from his fans all over the world.
The President of Nigeria has joined music lovers all over the world in mourning and extending heartfelt condolence to the late Fatai Rolling Dollar’s family and pray that God Almighty grant his soul eternal rest.
He believes the late Rolling Dollar who thrilled fans during his 64 year career will in death remain an influence on African music.
Gospel Highlife/juju musician, Yinka Ayefele said, “The news came to me as a rude shock. I never knew he was very sick. I enjoy his music so much and he was a father figure in the industry. His humility, determination and high sense of reasoning fascinated me so much. The industry has lost an enigma and musical colossus. I hope the government does something to immortalise him,” he said.
The governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, in his reaction, said that the death of Rolling Dollar, a front runner of Juju/Highlife music, was a huge loss to the entertainment industry.
Aregbesola, in a statement signed by his Director of Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlanwon,described the octogenarian as a testimony of perseverance and hope, stressing that his life demonstrated that no time was too late for man to have a breakthrough in life.
Pa. Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju aka Fatai Rolling Dollar was born on the 22nd July 1926 to the family of late Chief Olagunju in Ede, Osun State. He started his musical career in 1953 and has trained many professional musicians, such as Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, late Dr. Orlando Owoh, Bob Aladeniyi among others.
Pa Rolling Dollar had played music throughout his life time and travelled far and wide preaching the gospel of music. He was one of the pioneers of Juju music genre in Nigeria.
Years back, it seems like Pa Rolling Dollar was in the nightfall of his career, but he took many and the Nigerian music scene by surprise as he stormed back with his hit song, ‘WON KERE SI NUMBER WA’, which became the anthem of young and old, also the song was used as signature tunes for some brand commercials.
The Juju legend at 85, was still fathering babies, and in a recent interview claimed that he was still interested in fathering babies.
