Earnest Olatunde Thomas (10 December 1922 – 1981), known as Tunde Nightingale or The Western Nightingale, was a renowned Nigerian singer and guitarist, celebrated for his distinctive jùjú music style, following in the tradition of Tunde King.
Born in Ibadan, he received his education in Lagos, served in the army, and worked for a railway company. In 1944, he formed his first group, a trio featuring guitar, tambourine, and shekere. This period marked the beginning of Nigerian musicians incorporating guitars into their recordings. However, his juju style wasn’t the most popular among the Lagos elite who dominated the social scene, limiting his performances to bars and resulting in modest income opportunities.
In 1952, under the name Tunde Nightingale and His Agba Jolly Orchestra, his band performed regularly at the West African Club in Ibadan. His contemporaries included Ayinde Bakare, I. K. Dairo, and Dele Ojo. By then, his group had grown to eight members and continued to play at the West African Club in Ibadan. Between 1954 and 1964, Nightingale’s popularity improved, but he still had few hits. In the mid-1960s, he signed a record deal with Mr. Jossy Fajimolu. During this period, his music gained popularity among Lagos socialites who found it more suitable for social parties than dance halls.
He developed a style of juju music that included space for praise and incantations, making it ideal for party music rather than halls or dances. His music style, known as So Wàmbè (“Is it there?”), possibly a double entendre referring to the beads draped over the hips of dancing women, gained popularity among Lagos socialites by the 1960s. They sponsored him on an international tour, and upon his return, he signed with the TYC label. Throughout his career, he recorded over 40 albums.
Modern stars like King Sunny Adé and Queen Ayo Balogun continue to be influenced by his style. Not only did he “sound” like a nightingale, but he also kept a live bird in his home.
