music.wikisort.org - Composer

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
Background information
Born	1947 (age 74–75)
Origin	Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana Los Angeles, United States
Genres	Highlife Afrobeat Afropop Jazz
Occupation(s)	Saxophonist Bass Guitarist Guitarist Composer Percussionist Singer Band Leader Arranger Record Producer
Years active	Early 1970s–present.[1][2]
Labels	Essiebons Records[3] Wea International[4] Dix Records Simigwa
Website	www.ambolley.com

Career

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.

Achievements

In June 2015 Ambolley received a citation in the US from the City Council of Philadelphia,[10] read by Council woman; Honorable Jannie Blackwell and Hon. Stanley ,J. Staughter in recognition of the musician's contributions to Ghanaian music in the USA.

Awards

• Most Consistent Artist — Ghana (1980)[11]
• Album and Song of the Year — Ghana (1990)[11]
• Trend Music Awards — Ivory Coast (1997)[11]
• Africa-American History Award — MWEPC, Los Angeles, CA (2001)[11]
• Afrikan Music Award — Los Angeles, CA (2002)[11]
• Malcolm X Music Festival Award — Los Angeles, CA (2002)[11]
• Lifetime Achievement Award — The Jazz at Drew from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA (2003)[12]
• Congressional, Gubernatorial Certificate of Special Recognition — Congresswoman Juanita Millinder McDonald (2003)[13]
• Best World Beat Recombinant Artist 2003 & Best World Beat Recombinant Artist 2003 L.A. Weekly nominated Ambolley for Best World Beat Recombinant Artist in 2003[14] and 2004 [15]

References

---