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

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 Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 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.

2 hours

Last on

Sun 22 Jan 2017 18:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music

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Music Played

  • Donna Summer

    I Feel Love

    • Donna Summer - On The Radio.
    • Casablanca.
    • 7.

  • The Tornados

    Telstar

  • CHVRCHES

    The Mother We Share

  • LCD Soundsystem

    Someone Great

  • William Onyeabor

    Better Change Your Mind

  • Goldfrapp

    Strict Machine

    • Mute Records.

  • Visage

    Fade To Grey

    • Heart Full Of Soul (Various Artists).
    • Knight Records.

  • Tame Impala

    New Person Same Old Mistakes

    • Fiction / Polydor.

  • Pet Shop Boys

    West End Girls

    • Now That's What I Call Music '86.
    • Now.

  • Everything Everything

    Photoshop Handsome

    • CD SINGLE.
    • Geffen.
    • 1.

  • The Who

    Baba O'Riley

    • The Who Hits 50! (Deluxe Edition).
    • Polydor.
    • 001.

  • Sylvan Esso

    Kick Jump Twist

  • White Town

    Your Woman

    • Now 36 (Various Artists).
    • EMI.

  • MGMT

    Electric Feel

    • CD SINGLE.
    • Columbia.
    • 1.

  • New Order

    Temptation

    • CONNOISSEUR COLLECTION.

  • Air

    All I Need

  • Metronomy

    The Look

    • Because Music.

  • Depeche Mode

    Just Can't Get Enough

    • Me Without You O.S.T. - Various.
    • Columbia.

  • Ladytron

    Destroy Everything You Touch

    • CD SINGLE.
    • Island.

  • Hot Chip

    Ready for the Floor

    • CD SINGLE.
    • EMI.

  • Sparks

    When I'm With You

  • Aphex Twin

    Windowlicker

    • Warp Records.

Broadcast

  • Sun 22 Jan 2017 18:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music