Gospel singer and songwriter, Kunle Ajayi, has opened up about his 60yrs sojourn in life attributing his success as a music Minister to God.
The renowned singer who turned 60 on June 16th is a music multi-instrumentalist and a music director at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
In an interview, Ajayi who shared his humble beginnings said the revelation that he could study music at the University completely changed his life.
According to him, his greatest influence in the music industry is Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye adding that the first musical instrument that he ever owned, a recorder was gifted to him by the man of God.
The music director also revealed how he battled lung illness at a young age and how he vowed to dedicate his life to playing any wind instrument as a testimony to his healing from God.
He said;
”I was in the school choir. I started and led a musical group called Lagos State Chamber Orchestra. The group then was playing classical and contemporary music. We also played personal compositions. I was also in the school choral group as a guitarist. It was in secondary school that I learned that I could study music at the University.
“Before then, I was more interested in studying mechanical engineering. The revelation that I could study music at the University completely changed my life.
”Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, fondly called my Daddy by Pastor Kunle Ajayi, is the greatest influence in my life, during the holidays he usually organized free lessons for all students in the Church.
” He brought in some teachers to come and assist him in some of the subjects. The first musical instrument that I ever owned, a recorder, which I play, being self-taught, was given to me by this great man of God. Daddy Adeboye had special interest in me and did a lot to encourage me. Daddy is my destiny helper, encourager together with Mummy Folu Adeboye.”
”In those early years, things were not all rosy. Choosing music as a profession was not easy at all. There were people who opposed my going into music. I remember a couple in the Church branded me as having a familiar spirit which according to them manifested in my ability to play guitar and other musical instruments at an early age.
“This influential and wealthy couple once invited me to their house in Lagos. Oblivious of what would happen, I went with my guitar. The rich man’s wife then seized my guitar and broke it into pieces before my very eyes. She also threatened to send her dogs after me if she ever sees me with guitar again.
“Unfortunately, then my mother shared the woman’s opinion. She shared the woman’s opinion I suppose because that woman was rich and influential, so it was thought that she could not be wrong. Again, the lack of role models among musicians at the time made her oppose my choosing such as profession.
“She even went as far as praying to God to stop me from becoming a musician. No born again Christian mother would allow her son then to be a professional musician and be wallowing in sin. Even when I attempted to join the choir, I was chased away. However, I stood my ground and with the help of the Almighty God, I triumphed and went into music full time.
“At the early stage of my career, I had no musical hero. It was later when I discovered that Pastor Adeboye was a composer of gospel songs and that he even recorded an album that I started to have someone to emulate.
“The saxophone which I am very well identified with, came in after my healing. From my primary school, I had been diagnosed of having a problem with my lungs. I was taken to so many hospitals for treatment but I did not get any better.
“Rather, the sickness grew worse. People in the Church wondered what was wrong with me. Some wondered why I could not receive my healing in the Church.
“Others queried what I must have done. Thank God my healing came around the time that Pastor Adeboye had a miracle baby. I used their miracle as a point of contact to pray to God for divine healing. I told God that if He heals me, I would play any wind instrument to the glory of His name.
” In keeping to my vow, I picked up the recorder that daddy gave me and I used it to teach myself saxophone and other wind instruments. It is in paying my vow to the Lord and in the worship of the Almighty.”
On the lessons life has taught him, Ajayi said, “I have learned to trust in God alone because if you rely on men, they would fail you. I have also learned that God loves me specially, and I am humbled to be so loved and close to Papa and Mama Adeboye.”
Ajayi encouraged young gospel music ministers to focus on magnifying God and not seek fame or wealth.
Kunle Ajayi presently has over fifty long-playing record albums in both international and local markets.
