'''Dizzy K Falola''' (born '''Kunle Falola''') is a London-based Nigerian singer, currently performing as a gospel artiste, but is perhaps best known as a former 1980s pop star, famed for the hit "Baby Kilode".<ref name="Nwaogu">{{cite news|last=Nwaogu |first=Kingsley |title=A Musician's Grand Home Coming |work=THISDAYonline |date=2004-11-16 |url=http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2002/05/02/20020502art01.html |accessdate=2009-05-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506215658/http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2002/05/02/20020502art01.html |archivedate=May 6, 2009 }}</ref>
==Early life and pop career== Falola, whose parents died when he was young, was raised in Nigeria, where he displayed an early talent for music,<ref name="Nwaogu"/> and studied at the University of Ife.<ref name="Adeniji">{{cite news | last = Adeniji | first = Olayiwola | title = For Dizzy K, a Centre of Joy | work = Africa News Service | place = | pages = | language = | date = 2002-04-26 | url = }}</ref>
He met Tony Okoroji, who became his mentor, in the early 1980s and soon began working with him. His album ''Baby Kilode'', and its title track, became instant hits.<ref name="Nwaogu" /> Other albums included ''Sweet Music'' and ''Excuse Me Baby''.<ref>{{cite news | last = Iwuagwu | first = 'Nonye | title = Dizzy K. for Okoroji's book launch | pages = | language = | date = 2009-04-18 | url = http://www.punchng.com/Article-print2.aspx?theartic=Art200904172305237 | accessdate = 2009-05-23 |newspaper=The Punch}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Along with Chris Okotie, Felix Lebarty and Jide Obi Falola stimulated Nigeria's emerging music industry with a unique brand of pop music. His last secular hit was ''African Jamboree'', produced by Bisade Ologunde.<ref name="Adeniji" />
==Gospel music ministry== As a famous singer, Falola lived life in the fastlane<ref>[http://odili.net/news/source/2009/may/2/4.html Dizzy K is back]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> until he became a born-again Christian in 1989. Encouraged by singer Ebenezer Obey who himself had rediscovered Christianity, Falola turned down a recording contract with EMI to relocate to the United Kingdom and concentrate on gospel music.<ref name="Nwaogu" /> His first Christian recording was in 1994; since then he has toured with ministries through Europe and America<ref name="Adeniji" /> where his albums ''My Joy'', ''Power in the Blood'', ''The Healing Songs'', ''I'm Blessed'', and ''Marvellous'' have sold alongside Canada, Sweden, and numerous African countries.<ref name="Nwaogu" /><ref name="Adeniji" /> In 2001, after many years abroad, he paid a short visit to his homeland, and in 2002 performed at the official African launch of the ''Dizzy K Gospel Music Ministries'' and the ''Centre of my Joy'' album.<ref name="Adeniji" />
Now married with four children, Falola continues to reside in London, and runs a studio that publicises youth problems.<ref name="Nwaogu" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.dizzyk.com/ Musician's homepage]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Falola, Dizzy K}} Category:Living people Category:Yoruba musicians Category:Nigerian pop musicians Category:Obafemi Awolowo University alumni Category:Nigerian emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:Nigerian gospel singers Category:English-language Nigerian singers Category:Yoruba-language Nigerian singers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)