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Music: Rock & Indie

Tom Robinson curates the listening choices of the 6 Music listeners.

Now Playing @6Music: #Synth6Music - what should be on the ultimate synth playlist?

Music: Pop & Chart

22/01/2017

#Synth6Music - what should be on the ultimate synth playlist?

BBC Radio 6 Music - Now Playing @6Music, #Synth6Music - what should be on the ultimate synth playlist?

Now Playing creates a synth-themed playlist to mark the death of William Onyeabor.

Now Playing creates a synthseizer-themed playlist to mark the death of groundbreaking synth funk musician William Onyeabor.

To mark the death of the William Onyeabor, groundbreaking synth funk musician, Now Playing create a playlist around the synth.

Onyeabor launched his music career in the 1970s, when he put together an impressive home studio and pressing plant in Enugu. Between '77-'85, he single-handedly recorded, pressed, and printed a series of groundbreaking synth-funk albums. They included classic songs such as "Good Name" and "Fantastic Man," novel takes on synthesizer-driven funk that stood out even within Nigeria's thriving music scene.

According to the Luaka Bop record label, Onyeabor "self-released eight albums between 1977 and 1985 and then became a born-again Christian, refusing to ever speak about himself or his music again." The label reports that through attempting to speak with Onyeabor himself, and by talking to people who seem to have firsthand knowledge, it has been trying to construct an accurate biography of him for the past 18 months, without success.

In December 2014, William Onyeabor made his first radio appearance on the Lauren Laverne Show on BBC 6 Music, where he stated "I only create music that will help the world," whilst also admitting that he has never played live, and announcing that he had plans to release new material.

You choose the music, so get your best synth song suggestions to Tom via the hashtag #Synth6Music to help create the playlist or email nowplaying@bbc.co.uk.

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