Don Jazzy Biography & Net Worth
Don Jazzy is a prolific producer, singer and performer with a great business acumen. He has been able to dominate the Nigerian Music Industry for more about two decades. Jazzy is arguably the biggest and most respected record label executive in Nigeria and the Afro beats movement globally.
BIOGRAPHY
He was born Michael Collins Ajireh on the 26th of November, 1982, in Umuahia Local government area of Abia State of Nigeria.
However, he was raised in Ajegunle area of Lagos State with his siblings and attended Government College in Lagos before gaining admission to Ambrose Ali University to study Business Administration.
MUSIC CAREER
Don Jazzy biography cannot be complete with a look at his phenomenal music career as a singer, songwriter, producer and label owner. He started off his romance with music at a very tender age playing drums but later switched to playing the bass guitar and equally learnt how to play other musical instruments. He subsequently traveled to London in 2000 to play drums in a church on an invitation of his uncle.
As fate will have it, while he was in London playing drums and doing other menial jobs as a security to make ends meet he came in contact with D’banj and they both decided to go into music as partners. They returned to Nigeria in 2004 and formed the ‘MoHits’ record label which went on to produce successful singles and laudable performances and had an impressive line up of artists including D’banj, Wande Coal, Dr. Sid and D Prince and Kay Switch and Ikechukwu.
Don Jazzy is credited with the production of successful albums for MoHits like ‘No Long Thing’, ‘Rundown’ ‘Funk You Up’ and ‘The Entertainer’ by D’banj in 2008. Don Jazzy likewise also produced “Mushin2MoHits” album for Wande Coal which was rated as one of the best album ever produced in Nigeria.
He has done back vocal for artistes such as Kanye West on his song ‘Lift Off’ and also had a production deal with Kanye’s label Good Music at some point. Don Jazzy has equally worked with Kanye and Jay Z on a song that featured Beyonce on the album titled ‘I Watched the Throne’ that was released in August, 2011.
Unfortunately, MoHits got dissolved in 2012 as a result of irreconcilable differences between Don Jazzy and his Partner D’banj. All efforts by friends and associates to salvage the successful record label and bring the two friends back together was unsuccessful.
They both went ahead to set up their separate record labels with Don Jazzy setting up Mavin Record and signing up acts like Korede Bello, Reekado Banks, Dija, Dr Sid and Wande Coal, Tiwa Savage and others.
Mavin Record today is arguably the most influential and successful record company in Nigeria, thanks to Don Jazzy with his midas touch. The record label currently boast of stars like Rema, Ayra Star, Johnny Drill, Magix, Boy spice, Ladipoe and others.
SONGS
- Dorobucci
- Adaobi
- All Is In Order
- Looku Looku
- Ife
- Gift
- Do
- That’s Interesting
- E Better
- The Kick
- Baby Face
- Get Down
- Skelemba
- Now Is The Time
- Eminado
- Arise
- Booty
- Africa Waist
- Emma
- Surulere
- Mungo Park
- Without My Heart
- Gentleman
- My Darling
- Collabo
- Ifeoma
- Oh Yeah
- Up To Something
- Wind Am Well
AWARDS
He has received lots of nominations and awards for his exploits in music including;
- 2006, Nigerian Music awards- Producer of the Year
- 2002, Nigerian Entertainment awards- Music Producer of the Year
- 2011, The Headies- Producer of the Year
- 2014, The Headies- Producer of the Year
- 2015, City People Entertainment Awards- Special Recognition Award
ENDORSEMENT DEALS
He has endorsement deals with Loya Milk, Samsung and MTN and others.
NET WORTH
He is rated as one of the wealthiest artists in Nigeria. Don Jazzy net worth is estimated at about $85 million dollars.
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