Gyedu Blay Ambolley
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, often referred to as “James Brown of Ghana", is best known for his mix of high life, funk, jazz, and freestyle singing. Born in 1947, in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, Ambolley's career began in the sixties, first as part of the Tricky Johnson Sextet and then the Uhuru Dance Band before releasing his 1973 single, “Simigwa-Do”, which is often considered the first-ever rap song to be released commercially. He founded the Apagya Show Band in 1974 with Ebo Taylor and Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and is wildly known in his native country for combining the highlife sound with North American soul and funk. Ambolley has played in a number of other bands including Houghas Extraordinaires, Meridians of Tema, and the Ghana Broadcasting Band. He has shared the stage with Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, and George Howard among others, and has toured in Africa, Europe, Canada, and the The United States. In 2003 he was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles. With a career that spans 40 years and 30 albums, Ambolley released his solo album, 11th Street, Sekondi, on German label Agogo in 2019.
©Copyright Music Story Daniel Cole 2023
Similar artists
Discography
15 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
-
11th Street, Sekondi
World - Released by Agogo Records on Nov 22, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and Hi-Life Jazz
Afrobeat - Released by Agogo Records on Oct 7, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Message (Analog Africa Dance Edition No. 9)
World - Released by Analog Africa on Aug 1, 2018
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Sekondi Man
Africa - Released by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley on Sep 10, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Yekor Ye A Yeaba
Afrobeat - Released by Agogo Records on Sep 14, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Next Generation
Africa - Released by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley on Sep 10, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jaazz Meets High-Life
Africa - Released by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley on Sep 10, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Party Time
Africa - Released by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley on Sep 10, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Round Midnite
Afrobeat - Released by Agogo Records on Aug 25, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo