Ghana’s highlife Musicians

Gladstorm Kwabena Akwaboah Jnr., known by his stage name Akwaboah Jnr., is a Ghanaian singer-songwriter and producer from Mampong Beposo. He is the son of highlife musician Kwadwo Akwaboah. He wrote “Daa Ke Daa” for Becca and “Ayeyi Ndwom” for DSP Kofi Sarpong. Both songs won their respective artistes’ awards at the 2010 Ghana Music Awards, with Akwaboah …

Alex Konadu (1948 – 18 January 2011) was a Ghanaian singer-songwriter and guitarist who was known for his contribution to the Highlife tradition. Konadu sang in the Asante language Twi. He was nicknamed “One Man Thousand” for his ability to draw crowds wherever he appeared, and it is rumored that he performed in every single town …

Alhaji Kwabena Frimpong (died 18 October 2005) was a Ghanaian highlife singer. He is known for his hit song “Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu”, performed by K. Frimpong And His Cubano Fiestas. In the 1970s, he recorded with two different bands, with overlapping personnel. One was the Vis-A-Vis band, based in Kumasi and led by Isaac Yeboah. Their …

King Bruce (3 June 1922 – 12 September 1997) was a Ghanaian composer, band leader and musician. Background Composer, arranger, band leader and multi-instrumentalist made his mark on Ghana’s dance band highlife tradition in a variety of ways. Born in James Town, Accra, Gold Coast (present-day Ghana). Early life In secondary school, King encountered and learned principles …

Koo Nimo (born Kwabena Boa-Amponsem on 3 October 1934), baptized Daniel Amponsah is a leading folk musician of Palm wine music or Highlife music from Ghana. Biography Born in the village of Foase, in the Atwima District of the Ashanti Region in Ghana, West Africa, he worked in various jobs in science and medical-related fields while maintaining his interest in music. In 1957, when the former …

Pat Thomas (born Nana Kwabena Amo Mensah; August 14, 1946) is a Ghanaian vocalist and songwriter. He is widely known for his work in highlife bands of Ebo Taylor. Early life and education Pat Thomas was born in Agona in the Ashanti region of Ghana. His father was a music theory instructor and his mother a bandleader. Career He started …

Kofi Amoako, known professionally as DJ Vyrusky, is a Ghanaian disc jockey, he was the Commercial Media Manager at EchoHouse, before he becoming a full-time DJ on Starr Drive in 2014. He is currently the 2017 Ghana DJ Awards Best DJ of the Year and Best DJ from the Ghana Music Honors. Education He completed the University …

Paulina Oduro is a Ghanaian highlife musician, actress, talent show judge and stage performer. She is 7ft 8 in height the tallest woman in Ghana. Early life Paulina Oduro was born in Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana. When she was seven years old she moved to Japan for two years with her father, a diplomat, and mother, and took lessons …

Teddy Osei (born December 1937) is a musician and saxophone player from Ghana. Osei is best known as the leader of the Afro-pop band Osibisa, founded in 1969. Born in Kumasi, Osei was introduced to musical instruments while still a child. He began to play the saxophone while attempting to create a band with his college friends …

Ebo Taylor (born 1936) is a Ghanaian guitarist, composer, bandleader, record producer and arranger focusing on highlife and afrobeat music. Career Ebo Taylor has been a pivotal figure on the Ghanaian music scene for over six decades. In the late 1950s he was active in the influential highlife bands the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band. In 1962, Taylor took his …