Sunny Adé formed his own backing band in 1967, eventually known as his African Beats. After achieving national success in Nigeria during the 1970s and founding his own independent label, Sunny Adé signed to Island Records in 1982 and achieved international success with the albums "Juju Music" (1982) and "Synchro System" (1983); the latter garnered him a Grammy nomination, a first for a Nigerian artist. His 1998 album "Odu" also garnered a Grammy nomination. Sunny Adé currently serves as chairperson of the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria.