Love for music?
My love for music started somehow in the 1980's when my sister was a member of a church choir after our secondary school days at St. Dominic Church, Yaba, Lagos . I followed her there because I have a great passion for music. After about three years as a Choir member, I met a friend, Francis Agu (now late) a member of the Steve Rhodes Voices, who introduced me to the group. He introduced my sister and I to Uncle Steve Rhodes. We were invited for auditioning and we passed and that was how we became members of the group in 1990.

Do you play any instrument then?
No. Just the voice. But later, I joined Synergy, a band led by one Jaiye Aboderin (now late) It was there that I picked up the piano through a friend.

Experience with Steve Rhodes
Oh, it has been quite rewarding. I can now say that I think like Uncle Steve. I can understand music as he does. I can now appreciate the discipline he has been trying to put into the Nigerian music industry. Over the years, he has taught me that what could take me to the international level is discipline. He said I can never make it in this business if I was not disciplined.

Do you have any apprehension about his old age and ability to carry on now?
The funny thing is that he does not have to stand on stage and do the physical work any longer. What he does is sitting down somewhere and gives instructions on what should be done. He sits in his office, composes the music and teaches us. With his direction, we have been able to forge ahead.

Were you expecting him to hand over to you at the time he did?
No. I was not expecting it because some years before, he called me and told me he has got a good for me somewhere. I told him no, I want tom do music. He said was I sure because here in Nigeria , most people are not sure of what they want and things are not as we all thought but I insisted that I want to do music. After some years, he saw my determination and potentials and said ok.

The day he called me
He called me and said, Well, Ben, you said you want to do music. It might not be easy but if you put your foot down, am sure you will be able to forge ahead. I know you have the style and discipline. What you need now is the publicity to forge ahead and carry the band along. We are talking of a big band.

In the Western world, handling a big band is a privilege. I consider this a privilege and I am ready to hold on to this. I am sure he must have thought of other people but he called me because he believes in me. It's a privilege. I cherish this and I am not going to disappoint him or anybody in Nigeria .

Acceptability by members of the band
So far, its an 18-man band but it could be more if we want to look at the western standard. Before I came into the band, some of the members were known to me as we have all played with different bands in Lagos and played together before. When I came in, they were uncertain because I was younger to many of them. But today, they have accepted me and can cope with me because this is not a matter of age but talent, experience and ability to carry other people along.

Is there any reaction from his family that they want to step into their father's shoe and so may not accept you?
Oh, there is nothing like that. I conduct a very warm relationship with all of them. I thank God for whom Sisters Gloria, Jeanette and Ada are. They have no doubts in their minds about my ability to carry on. We have never had any fights or arguments and I don't think here will be any reason for that.

When leadership changes, style, focus, etc change. On your own, what changes do you hope to bring into the organisation?
Well, for the Nigerian musician to be respected and not to be treated like street boys, for the big band to be acceptable like the stand up comedian and the one-man band. I want the orchestra arrangement to be acceptable in the social circles, the Nigerian music industry and in the international circles.

Uncle Steve's passion is to bring out highlife because the music is dying gradually. We will continue to do just that and we will continue top interface Western music into our own culture so that everything could be well complemented.

Orchestra is not a common experience here because people can't really stand up and dance. People see it as an elitist stuff. How do you hope to take the experience to the street?
Nigerian music industry is growing but the uncertainties about the national economy ands the social ills like safety of people who like to come out at night on account of watching shows be it jazz or symphonies have hampered with our taking the music to the streets. But as the economy and social ills are tackled, we will see changes in taking our performances top places where all and sundry can see it.

Is the Steve Rhodes experience an exclusive Lagos experience?
No. this is wrong. So far, we have been able to extend our performances to places like Calabar, Abuja and Port Harcourt . In the far North, if anybody shows interest and invite us, we shall certainly be there.