Tunde Baiyewu

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Tunde Baiyewu
Tundebaiyewu.jpg
Background information
Birth nameEmmanuel Babatunde Baiyewu
Born (1965-11-25) 25 November 1965 (age 55)
London, England
OriginLondon
Occupation(s)Blogger, singer
Years active1993–present
LabelsPolydor (1993–2003)
RCA Records (2004–present)
Associated actsLighthouse Family

Emmanuel Babatunde Baiyewu, (born 25 November 1965) is a British singer of Nigerian descent and is vocalist of the pop duo Lighthouse Family. In 2004 he embarked on a solo career, releasing the album Tunde, and in 2013 released his second album, Diamond in a Rock.[1][2]

Career[]

Tunde Baiyewu was born in London to a middle class family of Nigerian descent. His father worked as an engineer, but died of cancer when Baiyewu was five, after which he moved to Nigeria with his mother and younger sister in order for the family to be closer to relatives. Baiyewu is a British citizen owing to his birth in the United Kingdom and grew up speaking English before learning Yoruba after moving to Nigeria and attended a boarding school near the capital Lagos.[3] Ten years later he returned to Britain, attending the University of Northumbria in Newcastle upon Tyne, and obtained a degree in accounting. He subsequently met Paul Tucker who was also studying at Northumbria University and was working at the same bar as Tunde – their partnership began and they formed Lighthouse Family.

In 2005, he appeared on the BBC Television one-off special, "Strictly African Dancing". He came last, but he learned the Bata dance in the process.

On 12 November 2006, Baiyewu appeared in an ITV documentary called Faith in Music. This documentary charted his life and music, from his roots in Africa, through Lighthouse Family and into his current solo incarnation. It also showed him performing an acoustic set featuring tracks from his latest album.

In January 2007, Baiyewu held his first tour in over four years (the last time being with Lighthouse Family). He did four concerts from 13 to 16 January 2007 in Edinburgh, Manchester, Wolverhampton and London respectively. He combined his solo material with Lighthouse Family hits.

Diamond in a Rock[]

In 2013, Baiyewu announced plans for a second solo album titled Diamond in a Rock and first single from the album "Move", both released on 4 March 2013.[4]

Baiyewu's second single is from Diamond in a Rock and is the title track, released mid-April 2013 on iTunes. The single was released as an EP with the track "Diamond in a Rock" (Radio Edit) and three previously unreleased tracks: "Home", "Tomorrow's News" and "Speaking Voice".

In October 2013, Baiyewu joined M People as their support act during their "20th Anniversary Greatest Hits Tour".[5][6]

Personal life[]

Baiyewu is an alumnus of Northumbria University and completed an accountancy degree in 1994.[7]

In March 2007, Baiyewu married Tope Adeshina, a Nigerian model, in Lagos, Nigeria. They live in the UK.[8]

His mother went on to marry former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo who, as both she and Baiyewu are, is of the Yoruba ethnic group.[9] His mother died in 2000.[10]

Discography[]

Singles[]

  • "Great Romantic" was released as the debut single from Tunde.
  • "Move" was released as the debut single from Diamond In A Rock.
  • "Diamond In A Rock" was released as the second single from Diamond In A Rock.

Albums[]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[11]
Tunde
  • Released: 18 October 2004
 32
Diamond in a Rock
  • Released: 4 March 2013
 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References[]

  1. ^ Ogbu, Rachel (9 June 2017). "LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY LEAD SINGER NIGERIAN-BRITISH TUNDE BAIYEWU MAKES A RETURN". Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  2. ^ Williams, Andrew (23 April 2013). "Tunde Baiyewu: I wanted to be an accountant. Then I met Paul Tucker and we started The Lighthouse Family". Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  3. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/02/tunde-baiyewu-lighthouse-family-nigeria
  4. ^ Dean, Sarah. "MUSIC BOX: Will.i.am, Britney Spears Number 1, David Bowie At 6, Plus Paloma Faith And Modestep". The Huffington Post UK. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Gigs And Tours News". Gigs and Tours. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  6. ^ Morris, Jennifer (2 October 2013). "M People and Lighthouse Family fusion in Guildford". getsurrey. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Famous Alumni". Northumbria University. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  8. ^ Ikeji, Linda (20 March 2007). "LIGHT HOUSE FAMILY'S TUNDE BAIYEWU WEDS. | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog". Lindaikeji.blogspot.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Relative Values: President Obasanjo and his stepson, Tunde Baiyewu". The Sunday Times. News Corporation. 24 October 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  10. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/02/tunde-baiyewu-lighthouse-family-nigeria
  11. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 568. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

External links[]

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