Legendary music promoter and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Evergreen Musical Company Limited, Femi Esho, has died at the age of 77.

Esho who was born on October 29, 1946, died in Lagos on Monday during a brief illness.

A press statement by the family on Tuesday, signed by Mr Bunmi Esho, announced the legend’s death.

“We announce the passing unto glory of our Patriarch, Mr Samuel Babafemi Esho popularly known and referred to as “Baba Esho”, Baba Musician, etc.

“Baba Esho departed to greater glory on Monday 17th June 2024 after a brief illness at the age of 77 years.

“Baba Esho until his demise was the Chairman of the Evergreen Musical Company as well as the Founder of the Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation.

“Baba Esho was a mentor and “encyclopedia” to many ‘Highlife music aficionados.

He will be remembered as one who gave so much of himself to see to the “immortality” of the musical works of Nigerian Highlife, Juju, Sakara, Apala, Afrobeat and a crop of other Nigerian/African genres of Indigenous music,” the statement read.

The family added that burial arrangements would be announced in due course.

One of his friends, Tunde Fagbenle, a notable writer and columnist, while mourning the legendary music practitioner said: “He has gone to rest. He carved a niche for himself and made a mark on the national canvas with it. He was a gentle, cheerful and giving soul. God bless him. He was my buddy!”.

Esho, in May launched a phenomenal project, the biggest music museum and gallery in Africa, Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation in collaboration with Dr. DK Olukoya.

The ambitious project, which will consist of a music Museum, a music library, a gallery showcasing Head Burst of Artistes, display of over 1,000 pictures of Nigerian musicians from 1914 and relics of their costumes/old musical instruments, an event centre for music concerts, cinema theatre and recording studio is billed to be completed by December.

Esho launched the Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation, located in Surulere, Lagos, “to preserve and safeguard musical heritage.” Significantly, it is “a one-stop place for research and documentation of over 10,000 Nigerian musicians,” and ”will help to create a world-class archival institution to cater for the needs of researchers, anthropologists and sociologists the world over.” The public and private sectors should support it as a service to culture and tourism.

Born on October 29, 1946, in Ilesa, in present-day Osun State, he has attained an international stature based on his services to music, which he regards as a universal language that transcends boundaries. A striking story, narrated by his daughter, demonstrates the value of his efforts to preserve yesteryear music. When he visited Ghana in 2008 to seek permission rights to release the works of some old Ghanaian Highlife stars, the late Jerry Hansen of the Ramblers Dance Band, who was then 86, “could not hold back his tears as he exclaimed that it was a great shame that Femi Esho came all the way from Nigeria to present to him all his lost works.” The drama showed the importance of music collection, and underlined Esho’s significance as a music collector.