Innate to the Nigerian royal family in Oshgobo, Ade left grammar school to pursue his career, which began with Moses Olaiya's Federal Rhythm Dandies, a highlife band. He left to form A Green Spots inside 1967. He formed the record label in 1974, fed up using existence exploited by the major label. Beginning by owning Juju Music, Ade began gaining a wide ensuing when Mango Records, a subsidiary of Island Records, released his albums. He wwhen shortly billed as a African Bob Marley, and headlined concerts in the United states of america.

Per prevent of the 1980s, Ade's star began to dim, & his albums sold less, though he continued to garner critical plaudits and far flung popularity inside Africa. 1998's Odu, the collection of traditional Yoruba songs, was nominated for a Grammy Award. He has besides be one of a virtually all mighty population around Nigeria, going multiple corporations around many industries. He has besides created a non-nonprofit known as the King Sunny Ade Foundation and works with a Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria.