Ebo Taylor, the influential Ghanaian guitarist, composer and bandleader who helped shape highlife music and inspired generations of African musicians, has died at the age of 90, his family has confirmed.
Born Deroy Taylor in Cape Coast in 1936, he rose to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s as highlife became Ghana’s dominant sound. Over a career spanning more than six decades, Taylor blended traditional Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk, soul and early Afrobeat, earning global recognition.
Presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu described Taylor as a “colossus” whose passing has deeply saddened the nation.
Early in his career, Taylor performed with leading bands such as the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band, developing a distinctive guitar style and complex arrangements. In the 1960s, he studied music in London, where he collaborated with Nigerian icon Fela Kuti — a partnership now seen as influential in shaping Afrobeat.
Returning to Ghana, Taylor became a sought-after bandleader, producer and arranger, working with renowned artists including Pat Thomas and CK Mann. Later in life, his music found renewed international attention through albums such as Love & Death, Appia Kwa Bridge and Yen Ara.
His songs, including Love & Death, Heaven and Odofo Nyi Akyiri Biara, were widely sampled by global artists such as Usher, the Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Rowland, Jidenna and Vic Mensa, introducing his work to new generations.
Tributes poured in following his death. Producer Panji Anoff remembered him as “Uncle Ebo,” noting his humility and generosity with younger musicians. Artists Black Sherif and Shatta Wale praised his enduring cultural impact and role in placing Ghanaian music on the global stage.
Ebo Taylor is remembered as a foundational figure in African popular music, whose fusion of tradition and innovation helped bridge highlife, Afrobeat and modern afrobeats — leaving a legacy that continues to resonate worldwide.
Credit: BBC
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