Local Legend: Steve Ajao

Anyone familiar with the local music scene will almost certainly have heard of Steve Ajao. As well as performing with his band The Blues Giants for over three decades, he’s played with trumpet legend Red Rodney, supported Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and once took blues giant BB King for chips down the Ladypool Road. 

However, what many people don’t know is that Steve’s creative talents don’t end with music - the visual arts have also played a huge part in his life. As a child he was asked to paint the school hall with murals, secured a place at Moseley School of Arts and Crafts and went on to study graphic design at Art College in Coventry. Over the years he’s worked as an illustrator and printer. He’s also produced drawings and portraits to commission and has two workshops at his home where he makes and repairs guitars. 

It’s a miracle that Steve’s still here to tell us about his fascinating life. Ten years ago, he was hit by a car which put him in a coma for three weeks and in hospital for six months. Despite this, and the inevitable advancing years, Steve shows no signs of slowing down. He gigs every weekend, and usually mid week as well. He runs jazz night Club Bebop (currently at the Dark Horse in Moseley), recently completed a run of flamenco guitar gigs at Sabai Sabai in Harborne and will be very busy at numerous music festivals over the summer.

 As we sit chatting over a coffee in Maison Mayci in Kings Heath, I can’t help wondering if there’s anything he can’t do. “I’m awful at maths,” he confesses. “I passed my eleven plus, but I know zero about arithmetic.” That may be so, but there’s no doubt of his prowess with musical numbers. To find out when and where to experience this local legend live, go to his website.

 Published in My Moseley and Kings Heath, February 2015.

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