This is certainly a period of mourning for many musicians and some individuals who knew the special nature of Mike Appoh.
As a musician, you either impact people’s lives positively with your music by the meaningful message in your songs, or garner love due to your popularity and kind heart and this also will reflect in your nature and belief.
All these attributes put together are what distinguished late Mike Appoh.
His love for music and humanity endeared him to many. Mike was always at some musicians’ rescue whenever there was a pressing need.
A well grounded tenor saxophonist and singer with impressive dexterity who often attached simplicity to life and perceived all as vanity. With this belief, he turned his must-visit popular Jazz Basin, located in the heart of Surulere in the 80s, to haven of peace for all visitors and offerred rehearsal space to many Nigerian musicians. Mike was lover of all, always did his best and leave the rest in God’s hand before bowing peacefully to the inevitable death.
He was a musician with high team spirit and happily, he joined these music bands adding laudable values to each of them. Some of the bands he once played with are Helm Stones-1967,
Sonny Okogwu Monna Finnih & The Sunflowers Band –
1967-1968,
Golden 35 Brigade Military Band Sokoto 1970,
Moon Rackers Band Kaduna and others.
Musicians that emerged in the 90s, can remember Mike, as our late reggae legend, Majek Fashek’s tenor saxophonist. He played with him in most of his shows when his monster hit ‘Send Down The Rain’ ruled music airwave.
After traversing the music industry for over 3 decades, with hope, failures and successes, Mike relocated to UK where he lived with his family before his death.
We will all miss you, especially uncle Richard Cole, still in tears.
May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Courtesy: Cashiff House of Ideas.
