Highlife maestro Dr. K. Gyasi is dead

The king of Sikyi highlife, Dr. K. Gyasi, undoubtedly one of the greatest musicians ever to emerge in Ghana has died in Kumasi.

Sources within the creative industry told graphic.com.gh in Kumasi at the weekend that the legendry highlife musician died on December 21, 2012, aged 83.

A native of Ankaase in the Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region, Dr Gyasi was born at Patasi in Kumasi in 1929.

His music, perhaps the most popular among the highlife group in those days electrified the Ghanaian music and entertainment scene in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

The Noble Kings Band, which he formed, toured many parts of the country, where, together with the theatre group attached to the band, entertained the people.

Not only that. The band extended its activities beyond the shores of Ghana visiting many African and European countries as well as the United States to perform.

The late Gyasi was born into a family of musicians and it did not take long for him to follow the train.

In an interview he had with Kessben FM in Kumasi about a year ago, he spoke of his early days in the Ahafo area where he started playing the guitar while living with his parents who were cocoa farmers.

He later moved to Accra to join the Appiah Kubi’s band where he further developed his skills in playing the guitar.

Mercurial on the guitar and a great singer himself, Dr Gyasi‘s performances attracted the attention of the first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah who invited him to join him in some of his overseas visits.

He was also a regular visitor to the Manhyia palace where he played to entertain the Asantehene Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II.

He had many albums to his credit many of which are still enjoyed by both the old and the young.

Some of his countless notable tracks are nipa nfon kwa, adaka mu ye hye, kokrohenko, nkrabea, akwantia ye musua and mankra yie.

During the 47th Independence Anniversary celebration in 2004, the nation recognised Dr Gyasi’s works when he was honoured alongside other greats like Agya Koo Nimo, Jerry Hanson, King Onyina, Alhaji Fuseini Pia, Togbe Daniel Ahegbebu and Efua Dorkenoo. They were honoured as Living Legends.

Story by Kwame Asare Boadu

Posted by admin on May 17 2013. Filed under Artcultainment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry