Harry Mosco | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Harry Mosco |
| Born | Moses Azuka Agada (1949-12-26)26 December 1949 Egede, Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria |
| Origin | Nigeria |
| Died | 19 March 2012(2012-03-19) (aged 62) Cairo, Egypt |
| Genres | Afro-rock, highlife, Afro-pop, funk, disco |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer |
| Years active | 1966–2012 |
| Labels | Tabansi Records, others |
Harry Mosco (born Moses Azuka Agada; 26 December 1949 – 19 March 2012) was a Nigerian singer, guitarist, and record producer. He was best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Afro-rock group The Funkees and later for his successful solo albums, including Country Boy and Sugar Cane Baby. His career spanned from the highlife movement of the 1960s to the Afro-funk and disco era of the 1980s, making him one of the early architects of modern Nigerian pop music.
Early life
Moses Azuka Agada was born on 26 December 1949 in Egede, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria, to Jeremiah and Margaret Ugoha Agada of the Agada family in Umunonogbangu, Ameke kindred. After losing his father at the age of two, he was raised by his uncle Wilfred Agada, an engine driver with the Nigerian Railways. Frequent relocations due to his uncle’s work made formal schooling difficult, but he completed his primary education in 1959. He developed a strong interest in music from an early age and became an accomplished guitarist during his teenage years.
Musical career
Early years (1966 – 1969)
Between 1966 and 1969, Agada performed with Celestine Ukwu and the Philosophers, one of Nigeria’s leading highlife bands. His guitar contributions featured on several notable tracks, including “Ije Enu”, “Usondu”, and “Oyi Igede”. The mentorship of Celestine Ukwu refined his musical technique and exposed him to the professional Nigerian music circuit.
The Funkees (1970 – 1977)
After the Nigerian Civil War, Mosco joined forces with musicians such as Chyke Madu to form The Funkees. Blending Afro-rock, funk, and highlife, the band became one of the most energetic acts of the 1970s. They achieved national success with singles like “Akula / Onye Mmanya” and “Akpakoro”. In 1972, The Funkees relocated to the United Kingdom to expand their reach and gained international recognition performing across Europe.
In 1977, The Funkees were invited to perform at the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) in Lagos. Following the event, they toured Nigeria extensively. However, upon returning to their base in London, factional disagreements among members led to the group’s breakup. As lead vocalist, Mosco subsequently embarked on a solo career.
Solo career (1978 – 1980s)
After the split, Mosco secured label support from Nigerian businessman **G.A.D. Tabansi** and released his debut album For You Specially (1978). Although the record met modest commercial response, he continued to perform and record, including collaborations with Ghanaian-born artist Nana Love.
His follow-up albums, Country Boy (1978) and Sugar Cane Baby (1982), achieved significant commercial and critical success. They blended Afro-pop, disco, and highlife with danceable rhythms, earning Mosco a major place in Nigeria’s post-highlife sound. Other works such as Peace & Harmony (1979) and Heartbreak (1983) further cemented his reputation as one of Nigeria’s most versatile musicians.
In 1997, he founded **H.M. Studios** in Lagos, a state-of-the-art recording facility that supported emerging Nigerian musicians. He was also among the early members of the **Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN)**, contributing to artist advocacy and industry growth.
Personal life
Harry Mosco was married and later divorced. He was the father of several children, including **Chike Agada**, **Paul**, **Nadia**, and **Dwayne**. Known for his humility and generosity, he served as a mentor and father figure to many younger artists and contributed to cultural projects in Lagos and his hometown of Egede.
Death
In early 2012, Mosco’s health deteriorated, and he was flown to the **Nasser Institute Hospital** in Cairo, Egypt, where he died on **19 March 2012** after a long illness.[1]
Legacy
Harry Mosco is regarded as one of the pioneers who bridged Nigeria’s highlife, funk, and Afro-pop sounds. His influence can be heard in modern Nigerian pop and Afrobeat music. His records have been reissued internationally, and his compositions sampled by contemporary producers. In 2019, *The Vinyl Factory* reissued his 1979 LP Peace & Harmony, praising its blend of “boogie, funk and Afro-disco rhythms that shaped a generation of Lagos nightlife.”[2]
Discography
With The Funkees
- Point of No Return (1974)
- Now I’m a Man (1976)
- Singles: “Akula / Onye Mmanya”, “Akpakoro”
Solo albums
- For You Specially (1978)
- Country Boy (1978)
- Peace & Harmony (1979)
- Sugar Cane Baby (1982)
- Heartbreak (1983)
References
- ^ "Harry Mosco is dead". Vanguard Nigeria. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ "Harry Mosco's 1978 Nigerian disco funk and boogie LP reissued for the first time". The Vinyl Factory. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- "Harry Mosco Profile and Discography". African Music Library. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- "Searchlight: Afrofunk and the Rise-Fall of Harry Mosco". TheCable. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- "Welcome to the 70s: Meet The Funkees". The 49th Street. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
External links
- [Harry Mosco discography at Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/artist/…)
- [The Funkees at AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/…)
