Segun Bucknor

Segun Bucknor (29 March 1946 – 11 August 2017) was a Nigerian musician and journalist active during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a pianist and guitarist specializing in genres ranging from soul music to pop music and to funk. Through their brief career, Segun Bucknor and the Assembly released a variety of music dealing with Nigerian culture or political influence which was described by the BBC as an "interesting slice of Nigerian pop music history and culture". and businesswoman Funke Bucknor-Obruthe.

Early life Segun Bucknor was born in Lagos on 29 March 1946. He was educated at King's College and Columbia University, New York. He was a member of the school's band and choir. He started out playing the tin whistle as a junior band member but later graduated to learning the guitar and piano. During this time, he apprenticed under Roy Chicago's band.

Career In 1964, Bucknor was a member of a newly formed band, the Hot Four. He was the band's organist and lead guitar player; other members were Mike Nelson Cole, the band leader and Sunmi Smart Cole, the drummer. The group played regularly in Lagos clubs such as Surulere night club. During his time in the United States, he was influenced by Ray Charles. The group recorded soul songs including "Lord Give Me Soul" and "I Will Love You No Matter How". Gradually the group migrated from soul songs to a style of afrobeat; in performance a dancing trio called the Sweet Things was included.

Bucknor was known for establishing politics into his music. In the 1970s, the band released more politically charged songs – "Sorrow, Sorrow, Sorrow", "Poor Man No Get Brother" – before its popularity began to slip around the mid-1970s. He wrote about political corruption, the same concept as during his musical career. He made rare musical appearances at cafes during the early 2000s. He made a few broadcasts on his daughter Tosyn Bucknor's social media account. It praises Bucknor's "reissue of various recordings made from 1969 to 1975 [which] represents an interesting slice of Nigerian pop music history and culture". The drums, percussion, guitar, bass, keys and horns would be accessories to his vocals.

Personal life Bucknor was married to Sola Bucknor until his death in 2017. Together, they had two children: Tosyn Bucknor, a media personality, and Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, a businesswoman. His death was announced by his daughter Funke on Facebook. He also had hypertension and diabetes.