Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), has expressed shock at the sudden death of DJ, Raymond Bola Brown, a key member of the team that has been designing and planning to execute the “COSON Mega Jamz”, the first ever 24 hours non-stop music concert in Nigeria, set to hold at Freedom Park Lagos on May 29.
Said Chief Okoroji, “I was in Owerri, planning the burial of my elder sister’s husband, Ambrose, when I got this call from my very good friend and colleague, the celebrated drummer, Richard Ayodele Cole. Richard and I, call each other almost every morning to celebrate a new day and pray for each other. I thought it was one of those calls. This time, Richard said ‘I have bad news, very bad news … Bola Brown is dead!’ The cup I had in my hand fell down and shattered. My spirit went on a tail spin.
“A few days earlier, I had a fantastic meeting at Freedom Park with Bola Brown, Righteous Man, Amos Mcroy, Richard Cole and others. We were dotting the ‘I’s and crossing the ‘t’s to give Lagos an unforgettable show as part of the COSON Week. ‘BB’ was excited and full of great ideas. We were all pumped up. It did not appear that anything was wrong with him.
“Raymond Bola Brown was a great guy with a smile, warmth and love for all. His death has left me devastated. I have tried very hard to accept the reality and to move on. I have called Theo Lawson, our friend, who runs Freedom Park, to commiserate with him. I know that Theo loved Brown like a brother. On the phone, Theo sounded broken. I extend my sympathy to the family, friends and many fans of DJ Raymond Bola Brown.
“In distress, I thought about cancelling the COSON Mega Jamz altogether. I have however come to the conclusion that it would be a disservice to the memory of a great guy who was the engine that drove the event. Without ‘BB’, it is now much tougher to do the Mega Jamz, but we will do it and use the event to celebrate this guy who was an encyclopedia of Nigeria’s popular music and the music industry. I want to ask everyone who can make it to come out to Freedom Park on May 29 for the Mega Jamz which will now be a celebration of not just Nigerian music and Nigerian musicians but that of a man who whole heartedly loved Nigerian music and musicians, DJ Raymond Bola Brown”.
