Rex Lawson - Revision history

Edb: Add contextual links to existing MuGlobe wiki articles; whole-wiki review requested by Ed (batch 029)

2026-10-24T00:23:28Z

Add contextual links to existing MuGlobe wiki articles; whole-wiki review requested by Ed (batch 029)

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:23, 24 October 2026
Line 3:		Line 3:

	== Summary ==		== Summary ==
	Rex Lawson, also known as Cardinal Rex, was a Nigerian singer, trumpeter and bandleader prominent in 1960s [[Highlife\|highlife]]. His ensemble sound gave unusual prominence to rhythm guitar and alto saxophone alongside the trumpet associated with the bandleader.<ref name="rex-blerf">[https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/lawson-cardinal-rex-jim-1938-1971/ Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation: Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>		Rex Lawson, also known as Cardinal Rex, was a [[Music of Nigeria\|Nigerian]] singer, trumpeter and bandleader prominent in 1960s [[Highlife\|highlife]]. His ensemble sound gave unusual prominence to rhythm guitar and alto saxophone alongside the trumpet associated with the bandleader.<ref name="rex-blerf">[https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/lawson-cardinal-rex-jim-1938-1971/ Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation: Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

	== Life and career ==		== Life and career ==
Line 9:		Line 9:

	== Music and style ==		== Music and style ==
	Lawson's contribution lay in arrangement and ensemble balance as well as singing and composing. The Foundation account describes rhythm guitar taking a more active role than background accompaniment, and a skilled alto saxophonist receiving solos that another highlife band might have reserved for trumpet. That distribution of musical responsibility helps explain the band's distinctive identity within the wider genre.<ref name="rex-blerf" />		Lawson's contribution lay in arrangement and ensemble balance as well as singing and composing. The Foundation account describes rhythm guitar taking a more active role than background accompaniment, and a skilled alto saxophonist receiving solos that another [[Highlife\|highlife]] band might have reserved for trumpet. That distribution of musical responsibility helps explain the band's distinctive identity within the wider genre.<ref name="rex-blerf" />

	== Works and performances ==		== Works and performances ==
	'Sawale', 'Ibinabo', 'Jolly Papa' and 'Love Adure' are among the songs identified in the Foundation's retrospective account. ''Dancing Time No. 3'' and the London recordings provide further entry points. These surviving releases make it possible to follow both the vocalist and the orchestration that helped sustain his reputation after his death.<ref name="rex-blerf" /><ref name="rex-clarke" />		'Sawale', 'Ibinabo', 'Jolly Papa' and 'Love Adure' are among the songs identified in the Foundation's retrospective account. ''Dancing Time No. 3'' and the [[Music of London\|London]] recordings provide further entry points. These surviving releases make it possible to follow both the vocalist and the orchestration that helped sustain his reputation after his death.<ref name="rex-blerf" /><ref name="rex-clarke" />

	<references />		<references />

Edb: Add a sourced, licensed illustration with creator credit and license link

2026-10-23T21:34:00Z

Add a sourced, licensed illustration with creator credit and license link

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:34, 23 October 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
			<!-- MuGlobe licensed article image -->
			[[File:MuGlobe-09aa29df32d535a1.jpg\|thumb\|right\|320px\|alt=Rex Lawson.\|Rex Lawson.<br />Image: Photographer not named by source; published by Music In Africa; Music In Africa. [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ CC BY-NC 4.0]. [https://musicinafrica.net/magazine/rex-jim-lawson-highlife-conference-kicks-port-harcourt-nigeria/ Source].]]

	== Summary ==		== Summary ==
	Rex Lawson, also known as Cardinal Rex, was a Nigerian singer, trumpeter and bandleader prominent in 1960s [[Highlife\|highlife]]. His ensemble sound gave unusual prominence to rhythm guitar and alto saxophone alongside the trumpet associated with the bandleader.<ref name="rex-blerf">[https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/lawson-cardinal-rex-jim-1938-1971/ Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation: Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>		Rex Lawson, also known as Cardinal Rex, was a Nigerian singer, trumpeter and bandleader prominent in 1960s [[Highlife\|highlife]]. His ensemble sound gave unusual prominence to rhythm guitar and alto saxophone alongside the trumpet associated with the bandleader.<ref name="rex-blerf">[https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/lawson-cardinal-rex-jim-1938-1971/ Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation: Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

Edb: Artist encyclopedia batch005: sourced musician/group profiles and incoming artist links, requested by Ed

2026-10-23T19:37:27Z

Artist encyclopedia batch005: sourced musician/group profiles and incoming artist links, requested by Ed

New page

== Summary ==
Rex Lawson, also known as Cardinal Rex, was a Nigerian singer, trumpeter and bandleader prominent in 1960s [[Highlife|highlife]]. His ensemble sound gave unusual prominence to rhythm guitar and alto saxophone alongside the trumpet associated with the bandleader.<ref name="rex-blerf">[https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/lawson-cardinal-rex-jim-1938-1971/ Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation: Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

== Life and career ==
He developed through bands in Port Harcourt and Lagos, working with musicians including Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya and Chris Ajilo. By the early 1960s he was leading his own ensemble; Onitsha became an important base for performance. He died in 1971, leaving a catalogue that continued to circulate.<ref name="rex-clarke">[https://donaldclarkemusicbox.com/encyclopedia/detail.php?s=2130 Donald Clarke: Rex Lawson, Encyclopedia of Popular Music]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

== Music and style ==
Lawson's contribution lay in arrangement and ensemble balance as well as singing and composing. The Foundation account describes rhythm guitar taking a more active role than background accompaniment, and a skilled alto saxophonist receiving solos that another highlife band might have reserved for trumpet. That distribution of musical responsibility helps explain the band's distinctive identity within the wider genre.<ref name="rex-blerf" />

== Works and performances ==
'Sawale', 'Ibinabo', 'Jolly Papa' and 'Love Adure' are among the songs identified in the Foundation's retrospective account. ''Dancing Time No. 3'' and the London recordings provide further entry points. These surviving releases make it possible to follow both the vocalist and the orchestration that helped sustain his reputation after his death.<ref name="rex-blerf" /><ref name="rex-clarke" />

<references />