Country Music’s Storytelling Won my Heart – Tommy Annan
By Esther Korantemaa Offei
Veteran broadcaster and celebrated radio personality Tommy Annan Forson has shared the reasons behind his lifelong passion for country music, describing the genre as one that teaches life lessons through powerful storytelling rather than simply entertaining listeners.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Highway 10.19 on ZED FM, the renowned broadcaster, widely regarded as the “Godfather of Radio” in Ghana, said the music scene during his early years in broadcasting was dominated by ballads, highlife and funk, with country music receiving little international promotion.
“There were more ballads than what people call cool music today. You listened to Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Kenny Rogers and Luther Vandross. They all told stories through their music,” he said.
According to Tommy Annan Forson, country music only began attracting wider global attention when mainstream artistes recorded their own versions of country classics, exposing the genre to new audiences.
“It was when Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston and a few others came out with their versions of those songs that people began to know where they originated from. That was how country music started spreading out,” he explained.
He observed that the genre has continued to evolve, citing the emergence of stars such as Taylor Swift and the growing fusion of country music with gospel.
The veteran broadcaster also referenced international research suggesting that country music is gaining global popularity because of its meaningful lyrical content.
Reflecting on his own decision to embrace country music on radio, Tommy Annan Forson said he deliberately chose a different path from other presenters.
“I wanted to be different. If you listen to country music, it has a story to tell. It talks about relationships, marriage, broken hearts and life’s journey,” he said.
He noted that listeners should pay closer attention to song lyrics rather than focusing only on melodies.
“I always said that if you’re going to listen to the song, listen to the lyrics, not just the music. It’s telling you something,” he stressed.
Drawing from his personal experience, Tommy Annan Forson said many country songs resonate with the realities of life, including loneliness, friendship and sacrifice.
“It’s a storytelling genre, and it teaches us a lot of lessons,” he concluded, adding that the emotional depth of country music continues to make it relevant across generations despite changing musical trends.
