Biography of Ebo Taylor
Early Life and Background
Ebo Taylor, born in 1936 in Saltpond near Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana, is one of the most influential musicians in the history of African music. His early exposure to the traditional Ghanaian music of Cape Coast, a region steeped in cultural and musical heritage, deeply influenced his future musical style, which blends Highlife, Jazz, and Afrobeat.
Musical Beginnings
Ebo Taylor’s career began in the 1950s when he emerged as a prominent lead guitarist and arranger for notable Highlife bands such as the Stargazers Band , Broadway Dance Band and the Blue Monks. During this period, he composed several timeless Highlife songs, including “Sika Enibre,” “Owu Na Mewu,” “Odo Ye Wu,” “Ghana Be Ye Yie,” and “Dofo.” His early success in these bands established him as a key figure in Ghana’s vibrant music scene.
Studies in Britain and Influence on Afrobeat
In 1962, under the name Deroy Taylor, he moved to London to study at the prestigious Eric Guilder School of Music. While in London, Taylor became a central figure in a community of West African musicians, influencing and nurturing the talents of many, including the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. Ebo Taylor’s leadership of the Ghana Black Star Band, which featured musicians such as Teddy Osei, Sol Amarfio, and Eddie Quansah (who later formed the band Osibisa), further solidified his status as a leading African musician.
Return to Ghana and Leadership of Highlife Bands
After completing his studies, Ebo Taylor returned to Ghana in 1965 and joined the Uhuru Dance Band, one of the country’s most renowned groups at the time. By the early 1970s,Ebo Taylor had become the band leader and took the group on tours throughout Nigeria and West Africa. During this period, he recorded the innovative album Conflict with a revamped lineup of Uhuru Dance Band members for Essiebons Records. This record marked the beginning of his experimentation with different sounds and a reduced number of musicians.
Formation of the Apagya Show Band
In 1974, supported by Essiebons, Ebo Taylor formed the Apagya Show Band with Gyedu Blay Ambolley, considered one of Ghana’s most innovative “Afro-bands” in the 1970s. The band was known for its unique compositions and arrangements, including songs like “Tamfo Nyi Ekyir” and “Kweku Ananse,” which showcased Ebo Taylor’s evolving musical style.
Solo Career and Continued Innovation
From the late 1970s, Ebo Taylor pursued a solo career, releasing several albums that highlighted his innovative sound and style. Notable albums from this period include Ebo Taylor and the Pelikans and Twer Nyame, featuring enduring hits like “Twer Nyame,” “Heaven,” “Come Along,” and “Love & Death.” These works demonstrated Taylor’s mastery of blending Highlife, Jazz, and Afrobeat, creating a distinctive musical synthesis that would become his signature style.
International Recognition and Later Career
Ebo Taylor’s music began to receive international recognition in 2003 with the rediscovery of his song “Heaven” on Soundway’s Ghana Soundz compilation, which significantly raised his profile in European and American music circles. He continued to experiment with musical sound and instrumentation, releasing a long-awaited CD with his Bonze Konkoma band in 2009 and the critically acclaimed album Love & Death in 2011 for the British label Strut Records. This resurgence led to further releases, including Life Stories and Appia Kwa Bridge, cementing his reputation as a unique artist in the global music community.
Contributions to Ghanaian Music and Legacy
Throughout his career, Ebo Taylor has been a prolific composer and arranger, contributing significantly to the careers of other Ghanaian musicians such as C.K. Mann, Pat Thomas, Jewel Ackah, and Papa Yankson. His innovative approach to music has made him a vital figure in the development of Ghanaian popular music, particularly Highlife, Afrobeat, and Afrofunk. In 2014, Taylor became the first musician in Ghana to receive the Kwame Nkrumah African Genius Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to African music.
Retirement and Ongoing Influence
After a career spanning over seven decades, Ebo Taylor retired from touring in 2020. However, his legacy continues to thrive through the Ebo Taylor Saltpond International Music Festival and his influence on a new generation of musicians. Taylor remains a celebrated figure in the music world, known for his unique synthesis of traditional African music with modern sounds, and his contributions to the global appreciation of Highlife and Afrobeat.
Ebo Taylor’s career is a testament to his enduring talent and his role as a pioneer in African music. His influence extends far beyond Ghana, making him one of the most important musicians in the world.
EBO TAYLOR GROUPS
• Asaase Ase
• Broadway Dance Band
• Stargazers Dance Band
• Super Sounds
• The Black Star Band
• Blue Monks
• The Uhuru Dance Band
• Apagya Show Band
• Uncle Joe Afri Beat
• The Pelicans Dance Band
Ebo Taylor is a Ghanaian ace guitarist, Singer, composer, bandleader, performer, record producer and arranger focusing on highlife and the grandfather of afrobeat music.
Career
Ebo Taylor is one of the pivotal figure on the Ghanaian music scene for over six decades.
Ebo Taylor has active and influential in the formation of highlife bands the Stargazers, Broadway Dance Band and the in the late 1950s.
• THE STARGAZERS DANCE BAND
Group Members:
• Ebo Taylor
• Eddie Quansah
• Joe Mensah
• Pat Thomas
• Teddy Osei
• Solo Amarfio
• THE BROADWAY DANCE BAND
Formed in 1958, Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana and Disbanded in 1964
Group Members:
• Ebo Taylor
• Joe Mensah
• Pat Thomas
• Mac Tontoh
• Stan Plange
• Duke Duker
• Sammy Obot
THE BLACK STAR BAND
Formed in 1962, London, Greater London, United Kingdom and disbanded in 1967
Group Members
Joss Aikins, Ebo Taylor (1962-65), Eddie Davies, Fred Coker, Sam Obote, Olu George (drums, ?-1967), Oscarmore Ofori (?-1967), Sol Amarfio (drums, ?-1967), Teddy Osai (saxophone, ?-1967), Eddie Quansah (?-1967)
• UHURU DANCD BAND
Formed was in 1964, Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana
Group Members:
• Ebo Taylor
• Charlotte Dada
• Stan Plange
• Joe Mensah
• Gyadu Blay Ambolley
• Dokyi ampenteng
THE BLUE MONKS
Group Members:
• Ebo Taylor
• Pat Thomas
• Andy Vans
• Eddie Davies
• George Danquah
• Pee Pee Dynamite
• Ray Allen
• George Danquah
APAGYA SHOW BAND –
Members
• Bob Pinodo
• Pat Thomas,
• Gyedu-Blay Ambolley
• Ebo Dadson
• Ebo Taylor
• Ernest Aubrey Honny
ASAASE ASE MEANING UNDERGROUND
• The Side project of Ebo Taylor. The band Consist of only boys from the streets and non-professional Musicians
SUPER SOUNDS Members
• Ebo Taylor
• Pat Thomas
• Go Slow
• Richard Neesai
In 1962, Ebo Taylor formed his group the Black Star Highlife Band and toured London. In London, Ebo Taylor collaborated with Nigerian musician Fela Ransome Kuti as well as other African musicians in Britain at the time.
On his return to Ghana, Ebo Taylor worked as a music Compose producer, arranger, bandleader crafting recordings for Pat Thomas, C. K. Mann, and Pelikans Band based in Cape Coast, Apagya shown band with Gyedu Blay Ambolley.
Ebo Taylor explored deep into lots of solo projects, combining traditional Ghanaian material with highlife music, jazz, and funk rhythms to create his own recognizable sound in afrobeat, the late 1960s.
During the 1970’s and 80’s Ebo Taylor became the in house guitar player, composer, arranger, and producer for Essiebons record label founded by his good friend Dick Essilfie-Bondzie.
In 2001-Unconditional Love Band
Unconditional love band was formed on 7th November 2001 out of passion to see highlife music revitalized on the Ghanaian music scene
As a philosopher, unconditional love band was committed to contributing to global culture through creative highlife music
The nine piece band with specialty in highlife involves three veteran Ghanaian musicians, Ebo Taylor on Guitar, Ray Allen on Saxophone and Osei Tutu on trumpet.
• Ebo Taylor-Guitar /Vocals
• Henry Taylor- Keyboards
• Ray Allen –Saxophone / Vocals
• Eli Amewode-Bosa –Trombone
• Fiifi Donkor – Bass Guitar
• Ike Acheampong – Drums
• Wisdom Ashiabor –Congas
• Kweku Yeboah – Backing Vocals
Ebo Taylor’s work became popular internationally with hip-hop producers in the 21st century. In 1992, Ghetto Concept included his afro beats in their music.
In 2007, Ebo Taylor met the Berlin-based Afrobeat Academy band. The Band was formed in 2005 to work with Nigerian musician Oghene kologbo a former member of Fela Kuti’s band. They toured Ghana and Nigeria a month long tour in In 2009
Ebo Taylor and Afrobeat Academy performed sold out concerts shows in Paris and Frankfurt. They headed for studio to record a new album Ebo’s first International release ever released on strust Records on October 22,2010
Who sampled
• Heaven 1977
She don’t know by Usher feat .Ludacris 2010
Na wo se deng by Akwasi 2020
• Odofo Nyi Akyiri Biara 1976
Was asampled in
Ring the Alarm Pt.1 Pt 2. Pt 3 by Black eyed peas 2018
Balck magic by Kelly Rowland 2021
Feng shui byJidenna 2020
• Love and death
Was sampled in
Too me bt delux 2013
Kiss of death by Ruff Stuff 2018
Plenty by Ambre feat Sons of sonix 2021
• Come Along 1970 by Ebo Taylor and the Pelikans
Was ampled in
Certified by Ghetto Concept 1993
Remember That by Sadat 2011
• Atwer Abroba 1978
Was sampled in
This is London by Makola 2015
Belverdere by Ruck 2017
Mondo soul Funky 2004 by Ebo Taylor and Wantu Wazuri
Sampled in
Shake it harder by Flako 2011
• Amponsa 2009
Was sampled in Lava Cabeza by Mash up International featuring Timbuktu , Gnucci and Vaz
They toured Germany and Holland and appeaed on prestigious soul Ascension festival in Berlin’s lovelite.
In 2010, Usher used a sample from Taylor’s song “Heaven” for “She Don’t Know” with Ludacris
His collaboration with Afrobeat Academy in 2017, his Ghanaian funk anthem “Come Along,” was popular among DJs.
The success of Love and Death prompted Strut to issue the retrospective Life Stories: Highlife & Afrobeat Classics 1973–1980, in the spring of 2011. A year later, in 2012, a third Strut album, Appia Kwa Bridge, was released. Appia Kwa Bridge
He performed at the 2015 edition of the annual Stanbic Jazz Festival along with Earl Klugh,
Awards and recognition
Life Time Achievement Award – 2014 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award – 2019 Highlife Music Awards
Music Legend of the year – 2019 Ghana Business Awards.
Ebo Taylor watching a musical performance by young Ghanaian artists.
Selected discography
Albums
• Palaver (Tabansi/BBE Music), 2019 (rec. 1980)
• Yen Ara (Mr. Bongo), 2018
• Appia Kwa Bridge (Strut Records) 2012
• Life Stories: Best of Ebo Taylor 1973–80 (Strut Records) 2012
• Love And Death (Strut Records), 2010
• Abenkwan Puchaa (Essiebons), 2009
• Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Uhuru Yenzu – Hitsville Re-Visited (LP) (Essiebons), 1982
• Pat Thomas & Ebo Taylor – Calypso “Mahuno” and High Lifes Celebration (Pan African Records), 1980
• Ebo Taylor & Uhuru Yenzu – Conflict (Essiebons), 1980
• Ebo Taylor & Saltpond Barkers Choir – Me Kra Tsie (LP) (Essiebons), 1979
• Twer Nyame (Philips-West African-Records) 1978
• Ebo Taylor (Essiebons), 1977
• My Love And Music (LP) (Gapophone Records), 1976
