Ghanaian Highlife Legend Ebo Taylor Passes Away at 90
Ebo Taylor, a pioneering figure in Ghanaian highlife music, has died at the age of 90. His innovative blend of highlife, Afrobeat, and funk influenced generations of musicians.
The world of Ghanaian music mourns the loss of highlife bandleader Ebo Taylor, who has passed away at the age of 90. As The Guardian reports, his son Kweku announced the news. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Born on Ghana's Cape Coast during British colonial rule, then known as Deroy Taylor, Ebo Taylor began his musical journey playing piano before transitioning to guitar. He rose to prominence as highlife, a Ghanaian genre blending big-band jazz and Caribbean influences, gained popularity. He performed with notable highlife bands, including the Stargazers, the Broadway Dance Band, and the Black Star Highlife Band.
In the early '60s, Taylor spent time in London, studying at the Eric Gilder School Of Music. It was during this period that he formed a close bond with Nigerian Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti, who was also studying in London.
Returning to Ghana in 1964, Taylor formed more highlife bands and became the in-house guitarist and producer at the Essiebons highlife label. His solo work in the '70s was particularly groundbreaking, as he infused highlife with Afrobeat and funk elements. From 2000, he imparted his knowledge as a music teacher at the University Of Ghana. While he gained international recognition later in life, Taylor's music experienced a surge in popularity over the past 15 years. His album Love And Death was released internationally in 2010, followed by a series of reissues. Despite suffering a stroke in 2018, he continued to perform, making his US debut in 2022 and collaborating with Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge’s Jazz Is Dead project for an album last year. His music has been sampled by artists such as Usher, the Black Eyed Peas and Kelly Rowland.
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