Known as Cardinal Rex, the singer, trumpeter and bandleader from Buguma in present Rivers State, was born March 4, 1938 in Buguma. His dad was Kalabari and his mum from Owerri.
He was named Erekeosima which means "do not name this one" due to his father's belief that he would not survive.
He had smallpox while he was a child and his father neglected him thinking he would die. He survived and while in school years later, he sued his father and won. His father then cursed him.
It is certain that the curse had no potency on him as he grew to become one of the best-known highlife musicians of the 1960s in Africa.
Some of his greatest hits included 'So ala teme', 'Yellow Sisi', 'Sawa Le' and 'Jolly Papa'. 1965 Lawson had written more than 100 songs. He also travelled to the UK.
Lawson died on 16 January 1971 in a car accident at Urhonigbe village on the Asaba–Benin Road while on his way to Warri, Nigeria, for a performance. He was 32 years old.
His wife, Chief (Mrs.) Regina Rex Lawson, died in October 2008.
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