Dan Ian

* born in Umuezeawala, outside of the town of Ihiala today named Anambra State
Nigerian singer / guitarist in Afrobeat Highlife music.

In 1964 he finished the Holy Ghost College in Owerri and started teaching there in 1965. In 1966 he started his first musical project, called "The Spades". In May 1967, the governor of the Eastern Region Biafra declared independence from Nigeria that sent troups to re-integrate the territory. In these war times, Dan Ian stayed and often played for soldiers. In 1970 the war was over and their band was now named "The Airforce Wings" also shortened to The Wings. In 1971 he moved to Lagos to play with Sonny Okosuns backing band "Paperback Limited". By 1972, he had formed the band Wrinkar Experience which he is most famous for. They only existed six months but recorded a few great songs that are re-discovered nowadays as pure jewels. After the hit "Fuel of Love" he left the band, due to its commercial succses and exploitation. He went back to work with Oksun and formed a new groups called "The New Spades". He released a few singles and disappeared in 1978. He was gone twelve years, till he came back with one LP called "Jide Ukpuru Oma" in 1990. After that he disappeared from the music scene again.