Not even cancer can stop me - Banky W.
BANKOLE Wellington popularly known as Banky W. has come to make a difference with his music. His My Regret, crafted an intimate song that tugs on every last string of your heart, and pulls out every last tear from your eyes.
With Capable, he transports you to an island off the coast of Africa.
With You Really Don't Know Me he paints the picture of a young man, who despite all you've seen, is still shrouded in mystery, hardcore, pain, darkness etc.
Here lies a young man who is reflective of us all. Far from claiming that he is the best thing, his music tells us a much realer story. The same story that if you looked close enough, you would see in the mirror. It's about the joys of falling in love, the insecurity of being unsure about it, and the pain of heartbreak. It's about the risk of disappointing those closest to you, and worse, disappointing yourself. According to him my music is about “making life and love work. It's about screwing up. It's about repentance and redemption. Its about finding peace. It's about “wilding out”. Sometimes doing things you know you're not supposed to do. It's not just about getting there; it's about the journey” he said.
Born in America to Nigerian parents and spending his growing years in Africa, Banky learnt to appreciate both the beauty and the sorrows of living in the motherland; where somehow, believing in God helped him survive his life's struggles.
According to him “I woke up to the barrel of a gun of armed robbers at the age of 15. I fought through two surgeries on cancerous tumours in the same shoulder before the age of 23, and still earned an Engineering degree from one of the most prestigious schools in the USA,” said Banky.
For Banky, in a twist of the words spoken by his favorite artist, Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter, “life is never but a beach chair”.
Singer, songwriter, producer, entertainer, and all around renaissance man, Banky W is the consummate artist. His songs tell the story of his life, as-is, raw and uncut. Whether that means struggling to get through college via numerous jobs, scholarships and loans, or struggling to get the attention of a fickle music industry. Whether it's about love, joy, pain, money, hustling, music… it's all real, and it's all Banky W.
His music and his life story have catapulted him into the spotlight; with an ever-growing and larger-than-life presence on the internet. Banky has won numerous awards including the Urban Independent Music Award for R&B/Soul, The Nigerian Entertainment Award, and the highly coveted John Lennon Songwriting Contest grand prize in the R&B category. He's been featured on AOL, Fox TV, and he has appeared in a wide variety of print media, radio stations and a plethora of websites. His myspace page (www.myspace.com/banky) shows him being on the pace to one million song plays.
Through his music, blogs, and lifestyle, Banky has managed to independently connect on a personal level with fans, establishing a cult-like following of thousands of listeners across the globe.