Toby Foyeh African Music - African Music  

     Toby Foyeh was born in London, United Kingdom of Nigerian parents and is based in the United States. He started playing music from an early age in Nigeria paying his dues through school bands in Ibadan and Lagos, as well as while studying in the United States. A band he formed with some high school friends went on to tour America as Hugh Masekela's Ojah band. Although basically a self taught musician, he studied music at Berklee College of Music, Boston and Howard University, Washington DC where he also got a Film Directing Degree.

  Three successful CD/Album releases to date include "Here I Come" in Nigeria, “Jalolo” 1999/2001 and “Lagos Ilu Eko” 2006 releases which are available in America, Canada and Europe. He performed extensively on Nigerian Television where his music videos are very popular. With his band Orchestra Africa, he has performed in the United Kingdom, Europe, United States, Canada,Japan and Africa. Orchestra Africa's music dubbed as “AFRIJAM Music” arises from old traditional Africa juxtaposed with modern influences - high technology, advanced communications and international travel in a global market. Afrijam is a unique new music created from a fusion of Nigerian music styles – Highlife, Afrobeat and traditional Yoruba music with Rock, Pop, and Jazz .

Toby Foyeh has produced, recorded and co-produced a variety of other artists with varying musical styles including African, Jazz and Soul. One such project with keyboard player Roy Carter (ex-Heatwave) produced a dance hit for UK group Covergirl, while other musical collaborations include projects with Jake Sollo (ex-Osibisa), Saul Malinga (Ipi Tombi South African Music and Dance Troupe), Orlando Julius Ekemode, etc.

The Nigerian Public and other neighbouring West African countries are very familiar with his music especially the hit singles "I'm on Fire" and "Ore Mi" as well as the promo videos for these releases. The band has recently been featured on FOX Early Morning News and BET Jazz Scene,

national and local cable channels as well as Television Stations in Malta and Japan. Toby Foyeh composes, arranges, produces the band's music, and sings with his backing female singer-dancers. Orchestra Africa features traditional African instruments such as Gangan (Yoruba Talking Drum), Bata drums, Assorted Percussion Instruments, Flute, Guitars, Keyboards, Synthesizers, male lead and female lead and chorus vocals. The band's percussion breaks sometimes feel like a Drum Orchestra from the polyrhythms and counter rhythms played by the percussionists. The main featured instruments - Guitar and Flute played by multi-instrumentalist Toby Foyeh serve as highlights for individual songs. The lead Guitar is treated with the calculated virtuosity, speed and technique of a skilled jazz guitarist interpreting the traditional and contemporary music of Africa. The female singer-dancers in African costumes add a spice of traditional Africa in their call and response style of chorus singing, with improvised African dances.

The band’s constant world wide tours has taken them to Japan where they performed at the FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2006, Canada – Montreal Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival (three times), Malta Jazz Festival, Bahamas Jazz Festival, Jamaica Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, Curacao Jazz Festival, Grenada Spice Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Syracuse Jazz Festival, DC Jazz Festival, Calgary Jazz Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Medicine Hat Jazz Festival,City Stages Birmingham Al, Riverfest Little Rock, Ar, Jubilee City Fest Montgomery Al, Pensacola Springfest Fl, numerous Universities in the US and Britain, Performing Arts Centers including Kennedy Center and Cerritos Center Ca. etc. etc.

The artist has received numerous awards for his contribution to African Music and wishes to continue to take this unique music round the globe.

Toby Foyeh (a.k.a. Tokunbo Olowofoyeku) is a British, Nigerian American musician and guitarist. He was born in London, England of Nigerian parents and is currently based in the Washington, D.C. area of the USA. Although essentially a self-taught musician, he studied music at Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts and Howard University, Washington DC[1] where he also earned a degree in Film Directing.

He has performed extensively on Nigerian Television and his music videos have been played for many years.[2] With his band, Orchestra Africa, he has performed in the United Kingdom, Europe, United States, Canada, Japan and Africa.[3][4][2][5]

He has had three previous CD/Album releases which include 'Here I Come' in Nigeria, ‘Jalolo’ 1999/2001 and Lagos Ilu Eko 2006 released in the USA, Canada and Europe. The Album ‘Here I Come' produced the singles 'Ore mi’ and ‘I'm on Fire’. Jalolo and Rain Dance are key tracks from the other two CDs. His most recent CD ‘Pirates of Africa’ is scheduled for release in 2019.[6]

Early life Toby was born in London, England, grew up mainly in Western Nigeria before progressing to embark on university education at Berklee College of Music and Howard University in the USA. He is the fifth child of Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku, a Nigerian politician and the former Attorney General of the Western Region in Nigeria's First Republic (1960-1966). He has 14 brothers and two sisters who live variously in the USA, the UK and Nigeria. From the age of 5, he attended Children's Home School, Ibadan and then transferred to Abadina School (University of Ibadan) and finished his primary education at St Johns School, Iloro, Ilesha.[7][2]

Education From St Johns School, Iloro, Ilesha, Foyeh was admitted to King's College, Lagos, Nigeria. He then attended International School Ibadan, Nigeria. On completion of high school education, he relocated to the USA and attended Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts and Howard University, Washington DC.[1] Career Foyeh started playing music at an early age in Nigeria, with school bands at King's College, Lagos and International School Ibadan, as well as while studying in the United States. According to Nigerian custom and parental expectation, he was supposed to have become an engineer, a doctor or enter into the legal profession in the footsteps of his father, Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku. Instead he chose music. Foyeh was interested in modernising Nigerian and African music, and he sought to create a flux and synthesis between the two. A band he formed with some high school friends went on to tour America as Hugh Masekela's Ojah Band.[7] He has produced, recorded and co-produced other artists with varying musical styles including African, Jazz and Soul. One such project with keyboard player Roy Carter (ex-Heatwave (band)) produced a dance hit for UK group Covergirl, while other musical collaborations include projects with Jake Sollo (ex-Osibisa), Saul Malinga (Ipi Tombi South African Music and Dance Troupe) and Orlando Julius Ekemode.[6] Personal life One of his younger brothers is Professor Abimbola Olowofoyeku, a professor of Law at Brunel University London, England.[8] He has published articles and academic texts for students and practitioners on tax law, revenue law and judicial immunity.[9][10][11] Foyeh’s youngest sister is Hollywood actress, Folake Olowofoyeku, who has acted in TV programmes like Law & Order, Modern Family and alongside Thandi Newton in sci-fi series Westworld. In movies, she has acted in The Beaver alongside Mel Gibson and in Death Race 2050 with Malcolm McDowell.[12][13] Folake is currently (2019) shooting a new Chuck Lorre (Producer of The Big Bang Theory) TV comedy series Bob Hearts Abishola in which she plays a nurse who is the love interest of the lead character, Billy Gardell.[14][15] Foyeh’s nephew, Kwame Jackson, was the runner up in The Apprentice which was hosted on NBC in 2004 by Donald Trump. Kwame, is a New York City based entrepreneur. His accolades include having been given the keys to several cities such as Detroit, Indianapolis, Trenton and Columbia. There was also the declaration of ’Kwame Jackson Day’ by the Mayor of Charlotte, NC, Kwame's hometown.[16][17] Musical style and influences Foyeh’s early influences from West Africa include Haruna Ishola, Victor Uwaifo and Fela Kuti. His influences from the USA include the likes of Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and George Benson. The music genres and styles that feature is his music are Yoruba Traditional, Africa Jam, Afro Beat, Highlife, Pop, Rock, Funk and Jazz.[18][2][5][1] Awards and achievements Scholarship award for the BA (final year) Howard University, Washington DC, USA. Scholarship award for two years at International School Ibadan, Nigeria.[2][1][7] Discography Toby has released a range of CDs, 12-inch vinyl singles and albums over a period of almost forty years.[6] Here I Come (1981) Danger Zone (with Andy Sodjka) (1984) I'm a winner (Covergirl) (1985) Stay With Me (Covergirl) (1986) Hollywood City (1986) Jalolo (UK) (1991) Jalolo (USA) (1999) Ilu Eko (Lagos) (2006) Ore Mi (2017) Pirates of Africa (2019) Labels: Taretone Records, Space Station Records, Kameleon and Kameleon Africa Records, Toby Foyeh Soundwave Records Tours Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa have performed at many US Universities as well as Performing Arts Centers including Kennedy Center and Cerritos Center, Cerritos CA.[19][20] Choreographer, singer and dancer, Becky Umeh, was one of those in Orchestra Africa for some time who toured North Carolina, South Carolina and New York (Syracuse Festival) with Toby in 2005. The band has been on tour internationally and performed in many International Jazz Festivals such as Malta Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival (thrice),[21] Montreal International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Calgary Jazz Festival, Medicine Hat Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Syracuse Jazz Festival, Washington DC Jazz Festival, Bahamas Jazz Festival, Jamaica Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, Grenada Spice Jazz Festival, Curacao Jazz Festival and Fuji Rock Festival, Nigaata, Japan[4] There have also been tours and performances in Nigeria,[2] and London, England.[5] References "Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Toby Foyeh". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Toronto Jazz Review". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Toby Foyeh in Japan - Fuji Rock Festival". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Toby Foyeh, Vortex Jazz Club". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Claflin University Kicks Off Lyceum Series with Toby Foyeh Orchestra and Dancers". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Professor Abimbola Olowofoyeku, Brunel University, London". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Suing Judges: A Study on Judicial Immunity by Abimbola A Olowofoyeku". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Suing Judges: A Study on Judicial Immunity by Abimbola A Olowofoyeku". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "The Taxation of Income by Professor Abimbola A Olowofoyeku". Retrieved April 15, 2019. "Folake Olowofoyeku in The Beaver". Retrieved April 15, 2019. "Folake Olowofoyeku, Actress". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "'Bob Hearts Abishola': Folake Olowofoyeku, Christine Ebersole, Maribeth Monroe among Six Cast in Chuck Lorre Comedy". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Folake Olowfoyeku To Star In New Comedy From 'The Big Bang Theory' Creator". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Kwame Inc". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Kwame Jackson, Charlotte Observer". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "West Africa Magazine 1992". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa". Retrieved April 13, 2019. "Toronto Jazz Festival". Retrieved April 13, 2019. External links Kameleon Africa Music Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa

Salif Keita / Toby Foyeh & Orchestra Africa Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto ON June 29 Salif Keita / Toby Foyeh & Orchestra Africa Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto ON June 29 By Kerry Doole Published Jul 02, 2008 A double dose of Afrobeat closed out the Toronto Jazz Festival’s mainstage series, providing a real treat for local world music lovers. The sound of five-piece Nigerian band Toby Foyeh & Orchestra Africa possesses a contemporary tinge, as shown by the vamping on electric piano and occasional Santana-like grooves. After an opening instrumental, they were joined onstage by three striking, white-clad backing singers/dancers, and later by two highly loose-limbed dancers. This upped the energy level, and it was the dancing as much as the music that entertained the audience. A self-explanatory and cool instrumental, "Afrobeat Jazz,” was a musical highlight of their lengthy but unspectacular set. It seemed fitting that Salif Keita appeared here on the same weekend that the good (Nelson Mandela, turning 90) and the evil (Robert Mugabe, stealing an election) icons of African politics made headlines. You see, if you could choose just one voice to exemplify the best aspects of a troubled continent, you couldn’t do better than the man who has been termed "the Golden Voice of Africa.” Over the course of a career now spanning 40 years, this member of the Mali royal family has become a superstar of world music, and he justified that reputation with a simply stunning performance. Dressed in a blue and gold robe, he began the set by standing still at the microphone, hands clasped over his heart and singing with true strength and soulfulness. His ace seven-piece band were complemented by two female singers/dancers, and their call and response interaction with Keita was a key facet of their sound. Their artfully choreographed but free-flowing routines proved crowd-pleasing, but it was the quiet magnetism of their leader that held sway. Keita kept the show business flourishes to an absolute minimum, simply uttering a humble "thank you” after a few songs. He didn’t even name the songs he performed, but that scarcely mattered, given that they flowed together in virtually seamless fashion. Group members took the spotlight for concise solos, with the kora player and the percussionist playing a tiny drum wedged under his armpit being especially impressive. The hypnotic grooves only let up 50 minutes into the set, when the band left the stage and Keita picked up his guitar for the first time. His solo performance of a quiet ballad sent shivers up the spine, as did the following tune, sung with his two harmony vocalists. As the band returned onstage, Keita announced "it’s my birthday. Let’s dance.” He began twirling around, pumping his fist in the air and grinning, and the high-energy number had the entire crowd on its feet. While his boss caught his breath, the guitarist took over with some George Benson-like playing and scatting. The energy level returned to high for the generous encores, punctuated by members of the local Mali community coming onstage to pay homage to their national hero. Keita closed out the night in full triumphant voice and expansive mood, capping a truly magical evening. Keita once told this scribe that, as a teenager, he loved the Scorpions. He has indeed come a long way!

Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa use  music to prompt exploration across cultures. Guitarist Toby Foyeh considers himself a citizen of the world, and it would be hard to argue the point. “I was born in London (England), moved to Nigeria when I was 3 or 4 years old and came to the U.S. to study when I was about 18, so I’ve lived about one-third of my life in each of the three countries,” said Foyeh, 67, who returned to London for awhile and now lives in the Washington, D.C., area. As a guitarist, Foyeh translates that experience into music, and he’ll share it, along with his band, Orchestra Africa, this Thursday at noon at Penn State Behrend as part of the Rhythms of Life Series of free concerts. Speaking from his home, Foyeh acknowledged the influence of American jazz and British rock on his music. “I like improvisational music, from Miles Davis to Jimi Hendrix, and somehow I have been able to merge this into my music,” he said. Still, with its bubbling rhythms, call-and-response vocals and prominent hand percussion parts, Foyeh’s band speaks with an unmistakably — and irresistibly —African accent. Music wasn’t Foyeh’s original destination. Like the children of many prominent Nigerians, Foyeh, whose father, Babatunji Olowofoyeku, was a high government official, was expected to enter one of the professions (Foyeh’s sister, Folake Olowofoyeku, stars in the CBS sitcom “Bob (Hearts) Abishola”). A stint at Boston’s then-Berklee College of Music led Foyeh to a recording and touring career of nearly 40 years. As a relative elder of the music, Foyeh arrives with a message for his audiences. “I would like them to investigate African cultures,” he said. “I would want them to get the messages of the way of life of immigrants, particularly immigrants in the African diaspora, which is global now, and the way their cultures affect the host society.” Sometimes, the influence moves in the opposite direction. One of the highlights of a Toby Foyeh performance is an Afrobeat-style jam where he plays flute. How did a guitar player pick up the flute? “I went to see Ian Anderson play with Jethro Tull,” Foyeh said with a booming laugh. “I went to buy a flute the next day, but I’m not ‘Aqualung.’”