Mike Falana (died c. 1995) was a Nigerian jazz trumpeter and musician of the highlife genre. He was a member of several groups in the 1960s that included well-known musicians, such as the African Messengers, the Johnny Burch Octet, the Graham Bond Organization and the Ramong Sound. He achieved a level of stardom in the early 1960s.
Background According to the book Kay Thompson from Funny Face to Eloise by Sam Irvin, Mike Falana was a thirteen year old prodigy who could play like Miles Davis. It was then that he was discovered by Lionel Hampton who was over in Lagos on a cultural arts exchange.Kay Thompson from Funny Face to Eloise, by Sam Irvin - Page 337
In the 1950s, Falana was a soloist with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Dance Orchestra which had Fela Sowande and Steve Rhodes as the musical directors on various occasions.Music in Africa, 24 Nov 2014 - Jazz in Nigeria, Growth
He was a member of the African Messengers who also had Bayo Martins, Peter King, Humphrey Okoh and Paul Edoh in the line up.Oxford Music Online - King (Adeyoyin Osubu), PeterSubliminal Sounds - Paul Edoh’s Class Breakers The group had a hit with "Highlife Piccadilly" and in 1964, they were winners at the World International Jazz Contest in Switzerland. In addition to appearing at clubs and festivals, the ensemble had provided backing for The Four Tops, The Temptations and Diana Ross.Subliminal sounds - Paul Edoh’s Class BreakersDawn Commission, October 29, 2015 - Peter King Musician, Saxophonist by Akinkanju
Falana, credited as Mike Fellana was a member of the group Chicago Line aka Chicago Line Blues Band who released the single "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop" / "Jump Back" in 1966.Discogs - Chicago Line – Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop East Anglian Music Archive, 03-12-2017 - Chicago Line Blues Band The line up included Louis Cennamo, Mike Patto, Tim Hinkley, Viv Prince and Falana.Northern Lights, April-July, 1994 - Big Bang Magazine article - [http://www.jtl.us/nlightsweb/lib/reviews/cennamo.htm An Interview with Louis Cennamo
He was the fourth member of the Graham Bond Organisation, replacing Jack Bruce. He was described by Dick Heckstall-Smith as a "diminutive well-dressed Nigerian from a rich Lagos family" and one "who had a wonderful attitude to Britain in its seamier aspects". Heckstall-Smith also said he was a "wonderful trumpet player".Blowing the Blues, fifty years of playing the British blues, by Dick-Heckstall-Smith and Pete Grant, 1989, - 1:4 The Beginning of the Graham Bond Organization, p. 62
In later years Falana as well as Nigerian Jazz singer, Maud Meyer received posthumous awards for their jazz contributions. The Guardian, 06 May 2015 - Arts, Sacthmo Jazz Festival 2015… Providing historical outline of Nigeria's jazz heritage By Anote Ajeluorou
Falana was one of the well-known African musicians who headed towards Europe to further their careers.Afrobeat! Fela and the Imagined Continent, By Olorunyomi, 2003 - - Page 23 Musical Afrobeat: Cultural and Political Evolution
Career 1960s 1960 to 1962 Mike Falana appeared at the AMSAC organized festival in December 1961 which was held in Lagos, Nigeria. US-artists such as Nina Simone, Odetta, Randy Weston, Michael Olatunji, Langston Hughes, and Lionel Hampton were part of it. Falana was incorrectly billed as Mike Falani.Taylor & Francis Online, 18 Jan 2018 - Performances in the theatre of the Cold War: the American Society of African Culture and the 1961 Lagos Festival, AbstractAfrica Speaks America Answers Modern Jazz In Revolutionary Times, Robin D. G. Kelley - - Page 192 Notes to pages 67-70, 97 Along with fellow Nigerian musicians; saxophonist Bobby Benson, trumpeters Zeal Onyia and Chief Bill Friday, Falana played with closing act Lionel Hampton on his signature tune, "Flying Home". Unfortunately for Hampton the tune didn't go down well with the audience as did the rest of his appearance.Africa Speaks America Answers Modern Jazz In Revolutionary Times, Robin D. G. Kelley - - Page 68 The Sojourns of Randy Weston
In 1962 Falana arrived in London and started work straight away. He was working as part of the house band at The Establishment which was co-owned by Peter Cook.The Wire June 2019 (Issue 424) - Page 37 Mike Falana: The talented Nigerian trumpeter was a star of UK jazz until he vanished from the London scene. By Val Wilmer 1963 Now as part of the UK group the Johnny Burch Octet, Falana participated in a live broadcast for the BBC which was recorded in March 1963. The musical selections performed by the ensemble included "Moanin’", " Early In the Morning", "All Members", " I Remember Clifford", "Going Up North", "Nightwalk" and "Del Sasser".Jazz Music Archives - Johnny Burch Octet: JazzbeatJazz Journal, 2 May 2019 - Johnny Burch Octet : Jazz Beat By Matthew Wright
While with the Octet, Mike Falana was at a reception at the Mayfair Hotel. While there he was photographed by Val Wilmer . The photograph had him with Sammy Davis, Jnr. and Davis' MD George Rhodes. The photo and caption appeared in the May 1963 edition of Crescendo magazine.Crescendo, May 1963 - Page six
In early August 1963, Falana, billed a solo act was appearing at the Klooks Kleek on the same night as Brian Auger and the Trinity and the Tony Baylis Quartet.Melody Maker, August 3, 1963 - Page 8 Jazz Clubs - London, Wednesday-contd., Klooks Kleek And on Thursday he was the featured musician with the John Williams Big Band at the Acton in High Street.Melody Maker, August 3, 1963 - Page 8 Jazz Clubs - London, Thursday On Saturday August 3rd he was appearing at the Marquee as the featured artist with the Joe Harriott Quintet, and on Sunday August 4th he was appearing at the same venue as the featured artist with the John Williams Big Band.Melody Maker, August 3, 1963 - Page 8 Jazz Clubs - London, Jazz at the Marquee Also that month Falana was the star soloist with the John Williams Big Band at the National Jazz Festival in Richmond. The review of the band's appearance was by Crescendo. The reviewer made a comment about Falana's phrasing being in the Miles Davis vein.Crescendo, September, 1963 - Page twenty one Richmond Jazz Festival, Wild Wind
1964 Falana came no. 3 in the British section, New Star section of the 1964 Melody Maker Readers Jazz Poll.Melody Maker, February 1, 1964 - Page 7 Melody Maker Readers Jazz Poll, Results British section New star
Falana was a member of the African Messengers. He co-led with alto-saxophonist Peter King on the group's recordings.The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz Second Edition, Edited by Barry Kernfeld - Page 493 King, Peter (John) In mid-May, they appeared at the Marquee, playing to an audience of more than six hundred. At the time the line-up included Humphrey Akoh on alto sax, Peter King on tenor sax, Falana on trumpet, Happy Williams on electric bass, Dick Rushton on piano, Paul Edoh on congas, and James Meane on drums. Vocalist Mel Turner performed with them and one song they did, "Work Song" managed to get an enthusiastic participation from the audience.Record Mirror, No. 166 Week ending May 16, 1964 - Page 5 MORE than 600 fans crowded the Marquee, ... That year the group had their first single "Highlife Piccadilly" bw "Blues For Messengers" released on the Carnival label..The Magazine for Traditional Music throughout the world - Highlife Piccadilly, African Music on 45 rpm records in the UK, 1954-1981, African sounds on Ska and Rocksteady labels:
According to Melody Maker in the magazine's May 30 issue, Falana (spelt Mike Fellana), Mose Allison, the Jazz Crusaders, Chris Barber, the Staples Singers and The Yardbirds had been invited to the International Jazz Days festival.Melody Maker, May 30, 1964 - Page 6 Antibes
Also that year, an episode (one of the earliest) of London Line featured Nigerian parish priest, the Reverend Ogundura in the UK and a music item by Falana and the African Messengers.British Universities Film & Video Council - London Line, Dates 1964 - 1966, Category Cinemagazine - Government, History 1965 to 1969 In 1966 and as a member of Graham Bond Organisation, he played at the Ram Jam Club on June 30, and the Farnborough College of Technology on July 2, the Corn Exchange on July 26, the Manor House on July 29, the Atalanta ballroom on August 1 and various other venues.The British Sound, Wednesday 13 July 2011 - The Graham Bond Organization Family Tree #3 (June 30, 1966 - July ?, 1966) and #6 (August ?, 1966 - Fall 1966)
For a period of time he was in The Ramong Sound,The Musicians' Olympus - Trumpet Players, F, Mike Falana a group fronted by Raymond Morrison and Clem Curtis. When Morrison was forced to depart due to legal matters, Arthur Brown came in for a brief spell.40 Hits, 40 Stories, By Rick Simmons · 2022 - - Page 183 #33 (R&B Charts) "Baby, Now That I've Found You" (1967) The Foundations2NUR FM103.7, Wednesday 23 August 2023 - Vinyl Vibes by Jack Hodgins - Alan Warner - Original Guitarist of the Foundations 16:35 It would eventually evolve into The Foundations. By the time the group had a hit with "Baby, Now That I've Found You", Falana and Brown etc. were no longer in the group.40 Hits, 40 Stories, By Rick Simmons · 2022 - - Page 183 #33 (R&B Charts) "Baby, Now That I've Found You" (1967) The Foundations
1970s Falana played on Peter King's Shango album which was recorded in 1974. The other musicians were Humphrey Okoh on alto sax, David Williams on bass, Paul Edoh on congas, James Menin on drums, Arthur Simon on guitar, and Peter King on sax and flute. The album remained unreleased for decades.London Jazz News, 22 April 2013 - LP Review: Peter King – ShangoDiscogs - Peter King – Shango Later years In July, 2013 All About Jazz published their review the Wade in the Water: Classics, Origins and Oddities by The Graham Bond Organization. Falana's solo work on "St. James Infirmary" was mentioned with reviewer Duncan Heining referring to it as a "beautifully nuanced version". Falana's played on about twenty of the tracks.All About Jazz, July 18, 2013 - Graham Bond: Wading In Murky Waters By Duncan HeiningDiscogs - The Graham Bond Organization – Wade In The Water (Classics, Origins & Oddities)
An article about Mike Falana by Val Wilmer appeared in the June 2019 issue of The Wire.The Wire website - Issue 424
Death According to jazz musician and historian Anote Ajeluorou, Mike Falana had health issues and died abroad.The Guardian, 06 May 2015 - Arts, Sacthmo Jazz Festival 2015… Providing historical outline of Nigeria's jazz heritage By Anote Ajeluorou It is believed that he died in 1995.Otherweis..., Sunday, June 25, 2017 - Substituting for The Who
Further reading The Wire, Issue 424, June 2019 - Mike Falana: The talented Nigerian trumpeter was a star of UK jazz until he vanished from the London scene. By Val WilmerThe Wire website - Issue 424 References
External links Discogs - Mike Falana Many Fantastic Colors - on Hiseman, Graham Bond, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Mike Falana (pictured)