Shina Peters’ younger brother, Yomi Peters, said he had to stop singing like his brother, when what he was getting from him was trouble, instead of support.
The younger Peters, while speaking with The Point, said that he had succumbed to people’s advice, to sing like his brother, but it never worked for him in any way.
He stated, “If you are copying someone who is not supporting you, you are just wasting your time. But if the person holds your hand, it is easier for you to climb up. As I was playing like him, people said it was possible I was even giving him more headache, since I was also his look-alike. When I started playing like Sunny Ade, I realised that the fight between us reduced.”
Since the younger Peters once played for King Sunny Ade, it was easy for him to switch to his music. According to him, since he took the decision to play like KSA, it has been paying his bills.
He also debunked the claims that he started music because his brother was popular, insisting that he had established a band before his brother came to limelight.
He narrated, “People who know me well, know me; I do not need to say much. Before my brother came into the limelight, I had established my band. Shina Peters’ ‘Ace’ came out in 1989 and I started my band in 1986. I played with Monsuru Akande, Wale Abiodun, King Sunny Ade, among others. I was already into music before my brother became popular.”
Though Shina Peters happens to be the more famous, Yomi insisted that he was not the first person to play music in the family.
He said, “Music started from my grandmother, who was the head of the choir of Cherubim and Seraphim, at a time. Our mother took charge when she left, because she was a singer too. And since I was little too, I have been drumming very well in the church.
“We are just three boys, but I am the last child. Growing up, I was not really close to Shina Peters, because he left us when I was still young. He is 12 years older. By the time we were together, I had started playing music as well. It was after the burial of my grandmother, that they asked me to start staying with him.”
He, however, admitted that they lived like cat and dog lives, and it was not anyone’s fault, adding however, that if one knows the ability of his neighbour and both were doing the same thing, one might want to close the door of opportunities coming the other person’s way.
He said, “My brother is good, and we have competed many times, both home and abroad. There was a day at Stadium Hotel, Lagos, where I was playing and he came on stage. He collected the guitar and played, which I did too. He played the keyboard, I did too. He played many instruments, which I did as well. It all started like a joke, but everywhere scattered at the end of the day. As time goes on, I had to use my brain. He would not even tell you that I am his brother. Till today, he has never given me any show.”
Presently, the younger Peters, who shuttles between America and Nigeria has seven albums. His forthcoming album took him a year to put together, as there were many challenges.
