Gyedu-Blay Ambolley | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Background information | |
Born | 1947 (age 76–77) |
Origin |
Sekondi-Takoradi,
Ghana Los Angeles, United States |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | Early 1970s–present [1] [2] |
Labels | |
Website |
www |
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is a Ghanaian highlife musician, songwriter, producer, and composer. The first musician from Ghana and the world to formally incorporate rap forms into local highlife rhythms, Ambolley created the musical genre Simigwa. [5]
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley was rather unknown outside of West Africa until Soundway Records included his seminal Simigwa-Do, [6] which Ambolley released in 1973, on their first anthology, Ghana Soundz. [7] Ambolley's sound has led many to label him the godfather of hiplife, the fusion of hip hop and highlife [2] idioms. Ambolley stood aside AL Threats at the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles. His song "Simigua-do" is considered the first Ghanaian version of previously introduced American rap in the world released in 1973. Ambolley, Sammy Lartey and Ebo Taylor are the few musicians who envisioned a future for high-life music in the late 60s and early 70s and helped transform the genre fusing high-life, funk and jazz [8] [9] music.
In June 2015 Ambolley received a citation in the US from the City Council of Philadelphia, [10] read by Councilwoman Honorable Jannie Blackwell and Hon. Stanley J. Staughter in recognition of the musician's contributions to Ghanaian music in the US.
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Background information | |
Born | 1947 (age 76–77) |
Origin |
Sekondi-Takoradi,
Ghana Los Angeles, United States |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | Early 1970s–present [1] [2] |
Labels | |
Website |
www |
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is a Ghanaian highlife musician, songwriter, producer, and composer. The first musician from Ghana and the world to formally incorporate rap forms into local highlife rhythms, Ambolley created the musical genre Simigwa. [5]
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley was rather unknown outside of West Africa until Soundway Records included his seminal Simigwa-Do, [6] which Ambolley released in 1973, on their first anthology, Ghana Soundz. [7] Ambolley's sound has led many to label him the godfather of hiplife, the fusion of hip hop and highlife [2] idioms. Ambolley stood aside AL Threats at the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles. His song "Simigua-do" is considered the first Ghanaian version of previously introduced American rap in the world released in 1973. Ambolley, Sammy Lartey and Ebo Taylor are the few musicians who envisioned a future for high-life music in the late 60s and early 70s and helped transform the genre fusing high-life, funk and jazz [8] [9] music.
In June 2015 Ambolley received a citation in the US from the City Council of Philadelphia, [10] read by Councilwoman Honorable Jannie Blackwell and Hon. Stanley J. Staughter in recognition of the musician's contributions to Ghanaian music in the US.