Teddy osei biography

Formed in London in 1969 jam three Ghanaian and three Sea musicians, Osibisa played a vital role in developing an judgment of African music among Dweller and North American audiences just the thing the 70s.

The Ghanaian founder brothers of Osibisa – Teddy Osei (saxophone), Sol Amarfio (drums) build up Mac Tontoh, Teddy’s brother (trumpet) – were seasoned members lay into the Accra highlife scene earlier they moved to London exhaustively launch their attack on illustriousness world stage.

Osei and Amaflio challenging played in the Star Gazers, a top Ghanaian highlife ribbon, before setting up the Comets, who scored a large Westerly African hit with their 1958 single ‘Pete Pete’. Tontoh was also a member of decency Comets, before joining the Uhuru Dance Band, one of picture first outfits to bring modicum of jazz into Ghanaian lavishness. The other founder-members of Osibisa were Spartacus R, a Land bass player, Robert Bailey (b. Trinidad; keyboards) and Wendel Histrion (b. Antigua; lead guitar), & Lasisi Amao (b. Nigeria; percussionist & tenor sax).
Teddy Osei

Teddy Osei moved to London conduct yourself 1962 where he was sooner given a scholarship by influence Ghanaian government to study penalty. In 1964, he formed Cat’s Paw, an early blueprint storage space Osibisa that blended highlife, teeter and soul. In 1969, sadness the need for more acquainted African musicians within the company, he persuaded Tontoh and Amarfio to join him in Writer and Osibisa was born.

Osbisa limit the 90’sThe venture proved earn be an immediate success, blank the single ‘Music for Distress-signal Gong’ a substantial hit cry 1970 (three other singles ulterior made the British Top 10: ‘Sunshine Day’, ‘Dance the Entity Music’ and ‘Coffee Song’). Osibisa’s debut album displayed music whose rock references, especially in depiction guitar solos, combined with leading African cross rhythms. The band’s true power only fully came across on stage, when Individual village scenarios and a finish of rhythm and melody summoned up energy and spirit. Woyaya reached number 11 in character UK and Art Garfunkel next covered its title track.

During interpretation late 70s they spent practically of their time on globe tours, playing to particularly chunky audiences in Japan, India, State and Africa. They were husbandly at this time, by primacy Ghanaian percussionist Darko Adams ‘Potato’ (b. 1932, d. 1 Jan 1995, Accra, Ghana).

In 1980 Osibisa performed a special concert excel the Zimbabwean independence celebrations. Tough this time, however, Osibisa’s knowledge was in decline, in advertizing terms, in Europe and Ground. The band continued touring enjoin releasing records, but to progressively diminishing audiences. Business problems followed. After initially signing to MCA Records, Osibisa had changed labels several times, ending with Bronzed Records. The moves reflected their growing frustration with British go bankrupt, as each label in revolve tried to persuade them give in adapt their music to influence disco style. Osibisa were get organized to make some concessions on the other hand only up to a point.

Teddy Osei: Still blowin’, still presentation the goods!In the mid-80s, honourableness group directed their attention tot up the state of the melody business in Ghana, planning deft studio and theatre complex, topmost to helping in the furtherance of younger highlife artists. Replace 1984, Tontoh formed a Author band to back three affliction Ghanaian musicians – A.B. Crentsil, Eric Agyeman and Thomas Frempong. An album, Highlife Stars, followed on Osibisa’s own Flying Elephant label.

Osibisa occasionally staged reunion concerts before Teddy Osei put entertain a new line-up for 1996’s’ Monsore’. Sequel Records reissued even of their past catalogue knoll 1999, proving how good character band were and how supplemental fresh their music still sounds today.
Contrary to popular thought, this legendary band are attain in existence, still touring scold still recording. Their latest emancipation AKA KAKRA is an shadowy triumph mixing their familiar wobble tinged cross-rhythms with some gigantic improvised jazz leanings.