Ghanaian guitarist and composer Ebo Taylor, a pioneer of the African highlife genre, died at age 90 on Friday, February 6. His death was confirmed by family on Saturday. Taylor shaped afrobeat and influenced generations through fusions of traditional rhythms and Western sounds.
Ebo Taylor, born Deroy Taylor in 1936 in Cape Coast, Ghana, rose to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s as highlife solidified in the country. The genre, characterized by blending traditional rhythms with Western electric instruments, was advanced by Taylor, who fused Ghanaian elements with jazz, funk, soul, and early afrobeat over six decades.
He played in bands such as Stargazers, Broadway Dance Band, and in the 1960s traveled to London with Black Star Highlife, where he collaborated with Fela Kuti, an afrobeat pioneer. Back in Ghana, he became a sought-after arranger and producer, working with musicians like Pat Thomas and CK Mann. His guitar style, featuring detailed arrangements, influenced other African artists.
In the last 25 years, his work was rediscovered internationally. Reissues like 'Love & Death' and samples in tracks by Usher, Black Eyed Peas, and Rapsody introduced his sound to new generations. Taylor visited Brazil in 2012 for the Virada Cultural in São Paulo and last year performed shows in the city and Belo Horizonte.
The death was confirmed by family to the BBC, underscoring Taylor's legacy in African music.
