Ebo Taylor, the iconic Ghanaian guitarist and composer whose work helped define the highlife genre, has passed away at the age of 90.
His family announced the news on Sunday via his Instagram page, although the cause of death was not disclosed.
Taylor died at the Saltpond Hospital, according to a statement from the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).
His death came just one day after he launched the inaugural Ebo Taylor Music Festival, and exactly one month after celebrating his 90th birthday.
“The world has lost a giant. A colossus of African music,” the post read.
“Ebo Taylor passed away yesterday, a day after the launch of the Ebo Taylor Music Festival and exactly a month after his 90th birthday, leaving behind an unmatched artistic legacy. @ebo.taylor, your light will never fade.”
Born Deroy Taylor in Cape Coast on January 6, 1936, he rose to prominence in the late 1950s and 1960s, an era when highlife was Ghana’s dominant musical form. Playing with leading bands such as the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band, he gained a reputation for his distinctive guitar style and intricate arrangements.
Taylor’s six-decade career was marked by prolific innovation. He masterfully fused Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk, soul and early Afrobeat, influencing generations of musicians both within Africa and beyond.
A pivotal moment came in the 1960s when he took his Black Star Highlife Band to London, leading to a historic collaboration with legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.
He later led renowned groups such as the Ghana Black Star Band and the Uhuru Dance Band, and collaborated with greats including the Apagya Show Band, C.K. Mann and Pat Thomas throughout the 1970s.
While a celebrated figure in West Africa for decades, Taylor gained broader international recognition in 2010 with the release of Love and Death on Strut Records.
This was followed by critically acclaimed albums including Appia Kwa Bridge (2012) and Yen Ara (2018). His vast catalogue of influential songs includes Heaven, Atwer Abroba, Life Stories, Ayesama, Saana and You Need Love.
Taylor is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Ghanaian music history.
