Jonathan & Fashola Mourns Fatai Rolling Dollars

President Jonathan And Governor Fashola Released The Following Press Releases Shortly After The Death Of Fatai Rolling Dollars

Enjoy!

Fatai Rolling Dollar Will Remain An Enduring Influence On African Music – President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan joins other Nigerians and music lovers in all parts of the world in mourning the accomplished and multi-talented musician, Pa Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju, popularly known as  Fatai Rolling Dollar, who passed away earlier today.

President Jonathan shares the grief of all lovers of music over the death of the illustrious entertainer, master singer, guitarist and exponent of the native thumb piano who continued to perform and exhibit his unqualified love for the music profession at an age when most of his contemporaries had long retired.

The President believes that the late Fatai Rolling Dollar who enthralled his teeming followers throughout his career of over 64 years will, even in death, remain an enduring influence on African music and that the vacuum his death has created in the Nigerian entertainment industry will be hard to fill.

He extends heartfelt condolences to the late musician’s family and prays that God Almighty grant his soul eternal rest.

Fatai Rolling Dollar, A Great Musical Innovator- Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday expressed sadness on the passage of highlife icon, Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju saying the loss of the musical innovator would reverberate around the musical world and beyond.

In a condolence letter to Mrs Funmilayo Olagunju, the widow of the late musician popularly known as Fatai Rolling Dollar, Governor Fashola said he was a first rate guitarist under whose tutelage several other musical legends learnt to play the instrument. ‘’Your husband was a musical innovator who made a great contribution to the profile of Nigerian Highlife music on the global stage,’’ he said.

According to the Governor, Rolling Dollar is assured of his place amongst the pantheon of Nigerian musical greats with hits like ‘Won Kere si Number Wa’ and ‘Saworo’ enduring in the memory of generations to come.

‘’Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s it was impossible to escape the presence of this iconic genius across Lagos. I am pleased and gratified that in the latter part of his life Lagos State was able to reacquaint itself once again with his singular talents,’’ he said.

While praying for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed musician, Governor Fashola urged the family to find succour and comfort in the love of  the legion of fans that admired your Fatai Rolling Dollar’s work.