There’s just something uniquely ethereal about King Sunny Ade. A veteran of music, and a true industry legend, the singer moves about with the humility of a child. He greets slowly, with a youthful glow that originates from the omnipresent smile that continuously designs his face.
This is KSA. This is the legend of African music. This is a man who was the first Nigerian to be nominated for the Grammy. This is our history spanning over 50 years of stagecraft and dedication to indigenous music at the highest level. Sunny Ade has three Hollywood movie features, hundreds of recordings and international collaborations.
He is music royalty. And he just got inducted into the Hard Rock Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame began in 1979, in London, with an un-signed Red Fender Lead II guitar from Eric Clapton, who was a regular at the first restaurant in London. Clapton wanted management to hang the guitar over his regular seat in order to lay claim to that spot, and they obliged. This prompted Pete Townshend of The Who to give one of his guitars, also un-signed with the note “Mine’s as good as his! Love, Pete.”
And that tradition quickly grew. HRC is known for its collection of rock and roll memorabilia. The cafes solicit donations of music memorabilia but also purchase a number of items at auctions around the world, including autographed guitars, costumes from world tours and rare photographs; these are often to be found mounted on cafe walls.
