CARDINAL REX JIM LAWSON POSTHUMOUS ICON OF OLD PORT HARCOURT TOWNSHIP 2026.
Late Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson, from the present day Asari-Toru Local Government Area, born on 4th March 1938, died January 16th, 1971, was a legendary Nigerian highlife musician, trumpeter, and bandleader who dominated the1960s music scene.
He led the ‘Majors Band, which later became the Rivers Men’ to stardom with hits songs like “Sawale,” “Yellow Sisi,” “So Ala-Teme,” “Love Adure,” and “Jolly Papa” etc.
He was known for his soulful voice and multilingual lyrics.
Rex Lawson as he was fondly called became one of the best-known highlife musicians of the 1960s in Africa.
He was naned Erekeosima which translates to “do not name this one” due to his
father’s belief that he would not live past infancy. He was the fourth child to his parents, the others having died of illnesses.
At a young age, Lawson was afflicted with a severe case of small pox. While
his mother brought him to various medicine men for treatment, his father feared
he would die and lost interest in raising him. Lawson.
Rex Lawson played with big artists like Sammy Obot, Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya, Chris Ajilo, and other Ghanaian and Nigerian musicians and bands.
By 1965, Lawson had written more than 100 songs, in July 1970 he travelled to the United Kingdom, where he stayed until September and recorded the album, “Rex Lawson in London.”
A highly emotional and deep musician, Lawson was known to weep and shed tears while singing his own songs on stage, notably the haunting “So ala teme”. The late Sir Maliki Showman, Nigerian tenor saxophonist who played with Rex Lawson, Bobby Benson and Victor Uwaifo, remembers Lawson as always placing music over money.
Lawson is famed for his infectious gregariousness, his musical vision, talent, perseverance and individuality.
He was able to sing in many different languages and dialects such as Kalabari, Nembe, ljaw (lzon), Igbo, Urhobo, Ibibio, Efik and those of Cameroon and Ghana.
Lawson died at 32 years on 16th January 1971 in a car accident at the Urhamigbe corner on the Asaba-Benin Road, while on his way to Warri, Nigeria, for a performance.
After his death, most of his band members continued as the Professional Seagulls Dance Band.
His music is loved to this day in Nigeria. His songs are regularly performed and danced at live band shows all over Nigeria, and a number of young musicians have remixed some of his old hits, as h.is relevance continues to be felt. His single “Sawale” was a hit song all over Africa and has also been remixed in various Africa countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon etc.
In honour of his uncommon musical achievements, the Rivers State Government named a street (where he lived and had properties) after Lawson in the neighbourhood of Borokiri in Old Port Harcourt Township.
He was married to Chief (Mrs.) Regina Rex Lawson, who died in October 2008. Their marriage was blessed with children.
