The Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival proudly presents.

TUNDE BAIYEWU IN CONCERT - VOICE OF LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY & FULL BAND
A CELEBRATION OF 30 YEARS OF OCEAN DRIVE, POSTCARDS FROM HEAVEN & MORE

Join us at the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall Theatre on Saturday 22 November for a unique concert as Tunde celebrates 30 years of Ocean Drive, Postcards from Heaven plus much more. 

With his unique voice and timeless songs, Tunde remains a prominent figure in the world of soul and R&B music and is the voice behind 15million albums sales!

Born Babatunde Emmanuel Baiyewu, 25 November 1968) is a British singer-songwriter of Nigerian descent and is a member of the multi-platinum selling, Lighthouse Family.

With his unique sound and timeless songs, Tunde Baiyewu remains a prominent figure in the world of soul and R&B music.

Tunde was born in London but moved to Nigeria at the age of five. Ten years later he returned to Britain, attending the University of Northumbria in Newcastle upon Tyne, and obtained a degree in accounting. He subsequently met Paul Tucker who was also studying at university in Newcastle and working in the bar scene – their partnership began, and they formed Lighthouse Family.

The duo released their debut album 'Ocean Drive', with the lead single Lifted reaching the top five on the UK Singles Chart. 'Ocean Drive' was certified six-times platinum by the end of 1997, selling more than 1.8 million copies in the UK alone and spending 154 weeks on the UK Album Chart. Lighthouse Family's follow-up albums, 'Postcards from Heaven' achieved similar status in 1997, reaching six times Platinum status, an 'Whatever Gets You Through the Day' also receiving Platinum status. They subsequently sold over fifteen million albums throughout their career.

​Tunde's first, self – titled solo album, was released in 2004, with his second solo album, 'Diamond in a Rock', released in 2013. 

Over the past few years, Tunde has been working on a new collection of recordings, inspired by the artists and the singer-songwriter era of the 1970's. Reunited with Lighthouse Family producer Mike Peden, they have recorded a selection of Troubadour influenced songs.

Songs recorded are gems written by Elton John, Crosby, Stills & Nash, James Taylor, Leon Russell, Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, America, David Gates, Bill Withers, Todd Rundgren, and Barry White.