Why I gave my ‘baby’ to Hard Rock Cafe —KSA

History was made when the music legend, Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, popularly known as King Sunny Ade, donated his first guitar which he described as his baby to the world-famous memorabilia collection of the Hard Rock Café  in Lagos State as part of his ongoing 70th the birthday celebration and 50 years on stage.

The event which was graced by notable entertainers and musicians including MAVIN family, led by Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Di’ja, Korede Bello and the newly signed act, Iyanya; Peter of P Square, Tee A, Kunle Afolayan, Bovi, Olisa Adibua, Bolanle Olukani and Inidinma Okogie, among others also came to celebrate with the music icon, last Wednesday.

In his words, Sunny Ade noted that initially, he was skeptical and reluctant to release his 30-year-old guitar, but was glad to be part of a great history as the first African artiste join the queue of great musicians who have also donated to the hall of fame.

While holding the guitar dearly for minutes before the official handling over, KSA recalled the value of the guitar saying, “I call this guitar my baby because it was part of whom I was and still at the moment. This is the first time I would place it sideways. I always carefully lay it down. Forgive me please, because it makes different meaning to me bending it. I bought it when I wanted to record an album. It was the first one I saw when I visited a store. I bought it and right there at the store I spoke to it as if I was speaking to a human being. I said, please, you better don’t horn and make me to have a good record and also make sure the whole world appreciates you when the record comes out. My manager laughed and asked me if I was talking to him or the guitar and I told him that I was talking to my baby. I thank God that it was a success. This was the guitar I was holding in one of my album jacket with a crepe suits precisely during the Syncro system. The record did greatly well.”

“My heart was really heavy when I was told that I would have to give the guitar I can tell story about to the Hard Rock hall of fame. It took me awhile to decide and when my mind was made up to release it. I told it to be my ambassador at the Hard Rock and any where it is seen around the world when I went to pick it at my gallery and I have reluctantly gave it to the hall of fame. On behalf of my family, organisation, band and also my fans all over the world to I say thank you to the Temple Management for the opportunity and honour of the Hard Rock Cafe.”

He further wrote on the donated guitar, “With peace and love from me” and signed an autograph after the official handling over. KSA’s guitar, according to record has now has been added to the over 81,000 pieces of music memorabilia that Hard Rock has acquired over its 45-year history.

“It’s a great honor to be able to pay homage to the rich and historic musical roots in Lagos with a memorabilia donation from King Sunny Ade,” the CEO of Hard Rock Café, Sanjay Mathani, said.