Ebo Taylor, the Ghanaian guitarist, composer and band leader whose work helped define the highlife genre and influenced generations of African musicians, has died at the age of 90, his family has announced. Born Deroy Taylor in the city of Cape Coast in 1936, he rose to prominence during the late 1950s and early 1960s as highlife became Ghana's dominant music genre. He played with the era's leading bands, including the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band, and gained a reputation for a distinctive guitar style and detailed arrangements.
Over a six-decade career, he fused Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk, soul and early Afrobeat and went on to inspire musicians beyond the continent. In the last 25 years of his life, his music was rediscovered by a global audience, with tracks like Love & Death resonating with a fresh host of fans.
A formative period in Taylor's musical development came in the early 1960s when he travelled to London to study music, working alongside other African musicians, including the renowned Fela Kuti. Their collaboration is seen as part of a wider exchange of ideas that influenced Afrobeat, contributing significantly to its musical foundations.
Upon returning to Ghana, Taylor became a sought-after band leader, arranger, and producer, working with renowned artists such as Pat Thomas and CK Mann. His own recordings, including Love & Death, Appia Kwa Bridge, and Yen Ara, continued to emphasize his importance in Ghana's music scene.
Taylor's impact extended to international audiences as his music was sampled in contemporary hip-hop and R&B, introducing his work to new listeners worldwide. He is remembered as a foundational figure whose efforts bridged traditional and modern sounds, leaving a vibrant legacy that continues to influence contemporary styles, including afrobeats.
Over a six-decade career, he fused Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk, soul and early Afrobeat and went on to inspire musicians beyond the continent. In the last 25 years of his life, his music was rediscovered by a global audience, with tracks like Love & Death resonating with a fresh host of fans.
A formative period in Taylor's musical development came in the early 1960s when he travelled to London to study music, working alongside other African musicians, including the renowned Fela Kuti. Their collaboration is seen as part of a wider exchange of ideas that influenced Afrobeat, contributing significantly to its musical foundations.
Upon returning to Ghana, Taylor became a sought-after band leader, arranger, and producer, working with renowned artists such as Pat Thomas and CK Mann. His own recordings, including Love & Death, Appia Kwa Bridge, and Yen Ara, continued to emphasize his importance in Ghana's music scene.
Taylor's impact extended to international audiences as his music was sampled in contemporary hip-hop and R&B, introducing his work to new listeners worldwide. He is remembered as a foundational figure whose efforts bridged traditional and modern sounds, leaving a vibrant legacy that continues to influence contemporary styles, including afrobeats.
