{{short description|Nigerian jazz musician}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} '''Mike Aremu''' is a Nigerian Afro jazz saxophone player. His music draws from traditional Nigerian music.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/mike-aremu-brings-india-arie-for-sax-appeal-5/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Mike Aremu brings India Arie for Sax Appeal 5|access-date=28 February 2018|language=en-US|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>
== Early life == At 8 years old, in Niger State, Nigeria, at his local church he started playing musical instruments. He was a member of the Boys Brigade band. In 1995, with some basic lessons, he concentrated on the saxophone. A year later, he became a member of House on the Rock's music team playing alongside Nigerian gospel artist Sammie Okposo, Agboola Shadare, Gbenga Owoeye-Wise and others. He had a series of appearances at venues in Nigeria including Pintos, The Green Lion, Club Towers, K's Place and Mega Plaza's Dome. He completed session work for Onyeka Onwenu, Nigerian reggae artist Ras Kimono and Fuji music artist Wasiu Ayinde Marshall.<ref name="MTV">{{Cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/mike-aremu-brings-india-arie-for-sax-appeal-5/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Mike Aremu brings India Arie for Sax Appeal 5|last=Chris|first=Nwanne|date=21 May 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/mike-aremu-brings-india-arie-for-sax-appeal-5/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Mike Aremu brings India Arie for Sax Appeal 5|last=Chris|first=Nwanne|date=21 May 2016|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>
== Career == He signed a three-year contract (that lasted for four years) record deal with Kennis Music Label, Nigeria's largest record label during this period and released two chart-topping albums "Dance" (1999) and "No Shaking" (2002) jointly selling more than 1.5 million copies.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kennis|first1=Music|title=Kennis:Yesterday, today and Kelly Hansome|url=http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/kennisyesterday-today-and-kelly-hansome/|agency=Punch Newspaper|newspaper=The Punch|date=15 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104329/http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/kennisyesterday-today-and-kelly-hansome/|archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> He has also recorded two songs for the Christian Broadcasting Network in the United States.<ref name="Pastor Paul Adefarasin" />
Aremu has performed with Kenny G,<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Mike|first1=Aremu|title=Kenny G arrives for Mike Aremu|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/kenny-g-arrives-for-mike-aremu/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard|date=July 2011|access-date=2 July 2011}}</ref> Hugh Masakela, India Arie,<ref name=":0" /> Najee, Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton, Donnie McClurklin,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thenet.ng/don-moen-fred-hammond-mike-aremu-for-the-experience/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Don Moen, Fred Hammond, Mike Aremu for The Experience|last=Ibiene|first=George|date=12 November 2012|newspaper=The NET}}</ref> Marvin Winans, Ron Kenoly, Mary Mary, and Travis Greene. He made an appearance at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC.<ref name=":0" /> He has worked with UK-based author, pastor, gospel artist, Abraham Adeshile Great when the latter released the gospel music titled ''Next Level''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abraham Great & Queen Great - Next Level (feat. Mike Aremu) |url=https://www.weeklytrust.com.ng/music/1538425318/next-level-feat-mike-aremu-abraham-great-queen-great/|accessdate=12 October 2021|publisher=weeklytrust.com.ng|date=}}</ref>
He performed in London at The Barbican and Ocean as part of the annual Awesome Praise concerts.<ref>{{cite journal|editor1-last=Jones|editor1-first=Simon|title=Grapevine People, events & resources|journal=Third Way|date=August 2002|page=6|issn=0309-3492}}</ref> Aremu also performed at the London Festival of Life (FOL) twice, an event that was attended by over 40,000 people at the Excel Centre, London on 28 March 2008 and 18 October 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Awoyemi|first1=Y.|title=Mike Aremu For Festival Of Life Concert UK ...Plans Big For Coat Of Many Colours Nigeria Launch|url=http://www.modernghana.com/movie/24960/3/mike-aremu-for-festival-of-life-concert-uk.html|website=www.modernghana.com|access-date=18 October 2013}}</ref>
Aremu performed nine times at the (2006 to 2017)<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.pulse.ng/communities/religion/everything-you-probably-dont-know-about-the-experience-2017-id7684705.html|title=Pulse Ng|last=Inemesit|first=Udodiong|date=4 December 2017|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria}}</ref> Experience,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ajuoye|first1=Segun|title=Mike Aremu Performing|url=http://theexperiencelagos.com/portal/tag/mike-aremu-at-experience/|website=www.theexperiencelagos.com|access-date=9 July 2013|location=Lagos|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714182911/http://theexperiencelagos.com/portal/tag/mike-aremu-at-experience/|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref> with the 2010 Experienceattracting a crowd of over 600,000 at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.<ref name=":1" />
The debut concert of his four-month tour in the United Kingdom at the Jazz Café in October 2008 sold out.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Alonge|first1=Osagie|title=Mike Aremu embarks on gospel jazz explosion tour|url=https://thenet.ng/mike-aremu-embarks-on-gospel-jazz-explosion-tour/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The NET|access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref> In 2013 Mike Aremu released his current top selling and 3rd Album "Coat of many Colours" recorded in London, off the back of which he toured Europe appearing again at the Jazz Cafe London and the PizzaExpress Jazz Club amongst others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joyfulnoise.co.uk/mike-aremu-monday-6th-may/|title = Joyful Noise – MIKE AREMU – Monday 6th May}}</ref>
== Sax Appeal == Aremu is the organizer of the largest jazz concert in Nigeria, Sax Appeal. This is geared towards the promotion of live musical performances in Nigeria. This concert, held annually since 2010 with the latest edition that held; November 2014 at Transcorp Hilton Abuja,[http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/mike-aremu-jessy-j-storm-abuja-sax-appeal-concert/] has been aimed at fostering interaction between sponsoring organizations, businessmen and entrepreneurs in an entertainment environment. Sax Appeal has featured artists like Indie Arie,<ref name=":0" /> Kenny G, Judith Sephuma, Kunle Ayo,<ref name=":0" /> Yolanda Brown, Hugh Masakela, Marvin Winans, Mary Mary, Timi Dakolo, Cobhams, Waje, Jessy J,<ref>{{Cite news|author=Iyabo Aina |title=Mike Aremu, Jessy J to storm Abuja with 'Sax Appeal' concert |url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/mike-aremu-jessy-j-storm-abuja-sax-appeal-concert/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard|date=6 November 2014 |access-date=23 March 2015}}</ref> Agboola Shadare, Yinka Davies, Tosin Martins,<ref name=":0" /> Bez,<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Ige|first1=Victoria|title=Yolanda Brown, Tosin Martins Others for Mike Aremu's Sax Appeal|url=https://thenet.ng/bez-yolanda-brown-tosin-martins-others-join-mike-aremu-for-sax-appeal/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The NET}}</ref> Cobhams Asuquo, Waje and others.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vanguard|title=Mike Aremu's Sax Appeal for July|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/mike-aremus-sax-appeal-for-july/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=11 May 2012|agency=Vanguard Newspaper|date=11 May 2012|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref><br /> This event has brought together entrepreneurs in Nigeria including Donald Duke, Aliko Dangote and Babatunde Fashola.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Kelechi|first1=Silas|title=Aliko Dangote, Donald Duke, Fashola, Others Turn Up for Sax Appeal 3 + Our Exclusive Photo Gallery|url=https://thenet.ng/aliko-dangote-donald-duke-fashola-others-turn-up-for-sax-appeal-3-our-exclusive-photo-gallery/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The NET}}</ref>
== Awards == Aremu's work has been recognized by the music industry with an African Gospel Music Award,<ref>{{cite web|title=Winners AGMA Awards 2012|url=http://www.africagospelawards.com/winners.html|website=www.africagospelawards.com|publisher=Eagles Entertainment Limited}}</ref> a TOMA Award (Today's Gospel Music Awards) and an AMEN Award for Best Instrumental Album of the Year and Best Gospel Music Video of the Year.<ref name=MTV />
He was also nominated twice at the Kora Awards in 2003 and at JCI's TOYP (Ten Outstanding Young People) for best self-developed personality.<ref name="Pastor Paul Adefarasin" group=>{{cite web|title=Mike Aremu|url=http://theexperiencelagos.com/portal/artistes/mike-aremu/|website=www.theexperiencelagos.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714124830/http://theexperiencelagos.com/portal/artistes/mike-aremu/|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>
He won in four categories at the 2014 MEGA Awards (Album of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Use of Instrument, and best Contemporary/Alternative Album of the Year).<ref name=MTV /> He also won the 2014 Crystal Awards for Best use of Instrument and 2013 AGMA Awards in the United Kingdom for Best Afro Jazz/Instrumental.<ref name=MTV />
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.mikearemuvision.com/|name=Mike Aremu's Vision}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Aremu, Mike}} Category:Jazz saxophonists Category:Musicians from Niger State Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century Nigerian saxophonists