How Beejay Sax Became The Toast Of Many Lagos Celebrities
Abolaji Banjoko, popularly known as Beejay Sax is one of the saxophonists, who have brought spice to the Jazz genre of music. He is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, a professional musician with strong Christian ethics. Based on his Christian background, he decided to go into full time the music ministry.
He joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG in 2000 and released his first album in 2012 and his music style ranges from gospel, traditional jazz to contemporary African genre. He has performed at various corporate, social and gospel events, with top-level delivery at all times. He performed on the same stage with buster rhymes at the 2010 Canirivs (Rivers State Carnival), 2010, Lagos Kuramo International Conference, Afromedia 50th Anniversary, and other notable events round the country.
Beejay Sax has built a reputation for himself in the corporate world with reputable organizations like United Bank for Africa (U.B.A), Flour Mills, Nokia, Diamond Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Toyota, Vanguard, Lagos Business School, Mearsk Nig Ltd, and other prominent Corporate bodies in the Country.
He has performed several times as an opening act for the famous Enigma “LAGBAJA” at the prestigious Mother land’ and has also performed alongside the likes of D’banj, 9ice, P-square. In the top gospel acts like; Bouqui, Rooftop Mcs, Midnight Crew, E-Ben, Big B, Soul Play, Psalmos and others.
Some weeks ago, City People Journalist, Benprince Ezeh (08068599879) had a brief chat with Beejay Sax at an event and he revealed how he became the toast of many Lagos celebrities. Below are the excerpts from the chat.
May we know your name sir?
My name is Beejay Sax
What inspired you into playing sax?
I started playing sax at a young age, when I was in secondary school. It all started as a hobby, but now it’s what I do majorly. We play sax by blowing air, that’s my blowing life. It’s inspirational, it gives life to people, so it’s been awesome making it part of me.
At what age did you start blowing sax?
Maybe at 16years there, yes, I was 16 when I started.
How do you enjoy it? Does it give you joy? At present, is playing sax, your only job?
Is not just about blowing sax, there are so many things involved, there’s a band; there’s the music, we put music together. It has taken me all over the world, America, France, London, everywhere from playing sax. So yes, that’s my job.
What’s the name of your band?
Just BeeJay sax band.
What is your advice to the upcoming saxophonists want to emulate you?
Whatever you find yourself doing, do it well, take every opportunity, use every opportunity well and you will be fine by God’s grace.
You know it’s not that easy. Maybe yours has been smooth and easy…?
Mine hasn’t been smooth in anyway…
So can you tell us a little bit about yours?
A lot of things, when I started, I didn’t even have a saxophone, I had to rent a saxophone, I had to run at a loss in the beginning, before everything was balanced. So there’s always a storm and then a calm. So, it happens everywhere, it’s never easy, that’s the truth. And this is not aspiring to perspire, if it’s going to be easy, then everybody will be doing it, so to be honest, I don’t mind the way you see it now, the road was rough and tough.
