Renowned Nigerian trumpeter and music act, Victor Abimbola Olaiya, has given his opinion on why most male musicians cannot stay away from women and alcohol.
He said most musicians believe that they need alcohol, sex with women or hard drugs to put them in the mood during performance.
Speaking with YES magazine, the legend said, “It’s a question of habit. It’s a very bad habit which they copied from somewhere, which I cannot describe. But on my part and a number of my children, I don’t think they copied the act from me, especially drinking and smoking.
“Musicians believe that for you to be able to be in the mood, you must have to do certain things, but it’s a wrong belief.
“I do not take anything to put me in the mood for recording or performing. Not marijuana or cigarette. I don’t take anything. I go to the studio solo. Over the years, I did not drink. It’s only nowadays that I started taking some shots of wine. I don’t smoke, but I am with the company of the opposite sex,” he quipped.
“On the whole, I read in one of the papers that women and of course children should not be counted. So, I refuse to count the number of women in my life. But I’m respectably married with children and I’m happy.”
On why most musicians attain success and find it difficult to sustain it, Sir Victor said, “It’s because they were not focused, and apart from that, they didn’t invest, they didn’t see a future in what they were doing as I did.
“It’s not easy to be a successful musician and to keep it, except by the grace of God. And I tried to invest since I knew I was going to remain a musician or an artiste.”
Speaking further, the ‘Evil Genius’ of highlife music explained why artistes do not make or get hit songs all the time.
He said, “Well, in my hey days, I had so many hit songs and I make bold to say that most of my recordings are almost all hit songs. That’s because I try to make them very educative, constructive, melodious and rhythmical.
“I try to make sure that my arrangements and harmony are up to date. I don’t just open my mouth and sing any nonsense. Before going to the studio, I will make sure that I plan myself very well. I sample public opinion on some of my songs before going to the studio for recording.
“The problem is that most musicians, when they put out a hit number, they think that is all. Your recording manager or recording company will want you to be dishing out hit numbers in quick succession and at the end of the day you dish out nonsense.
“The simple truth is that only hard work is the secret behind success in music. It’s ninety nine percent hard work and one percent accident. I had to work very hard to keep the ball rolling. Playing three engagements at times in a day and for me to be on top there, it needs hard work,” he added.
