Victor Olaiya was born on 31 December 1930, in Calabar, Cross River State, the 20th child of a family of 24.
10 Facts About Victor Olaiya
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Victor Olaiya instead pursued a career as a musician, to the disapproval of his parents.
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Victor Olaiya played with the Sammy Akpabot Band, was leader and trumpeter for the Old Lagos City Orchestra and joined the Bobby Benson Jam Session Orchestra.
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In 1954, Victor Olaiya formed his own band, the Cool Cats, playing popular highlife music.
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Victor Olaiya's band was chosen to play at the state ball when Queen Elizabeth II of the UK visited Nigeria in 1956, and later to play at the state balls when Nigeria became independent in 1960 and when Nigeria became a republic in 1963.
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Victor Olaiya renamed his band to the All Stars Band when they played the 1963 International Jazz Festival in Czechoslovakia.
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Victor Olaiya ran a business that imported and distributed musical instruments and accessories in West Africa, he established the Stadium Hotel in Surulere.
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Elizabeth II 8.
Victor Olaiya was bestowed the second rank of the national Order of the Niger award.
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One of his daughters, Moji Victor Olaiya, was a Nollywood actress.
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Victor Olaiya died on 12 February 2020 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, at age 89.