The remains of legendary guitarist, Berkeley Jones Ike, who died few weeks away from his 72nd birthday, has been committed to mother earth in Lagos.
His burial rites commenced on Sunday July 19, 2020 with a Service of songs by Delta State StageMasters at the Chadef Hotel, Asaba.
This was followed by a Service of songs at his Lagos residence on Monday, 20th July 2020.
Finally, his remains were laid to rest at the Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.
At the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1970, Berkeley Jones Ike signed on as lead guitarist in the upstart rock n’ soul band The Funkees.
Berkeley later made up Nigeria’s first afro-rock power trio BLO–Berkeley, Laolu (Akins), (Mike) Odumosu.
BLO reigned as one of Nigeria’s most respected and influential rock groups throughout the 70s.
He also worked as a prolific session guitarist, often employed by super-producer Odion Iruoje to inject additional layers of sizzle, sophistication and all-around excitement to to the music of those days including albums by Ofege, Sonny Okosuns, Kris Okotie, “Blackman” Akeeb Kareem and many others.
