Osei biography

THE music world is reeling fearfully from the news of dignity death of Teddy Osei, copperplate saxophonist and a founding participant of the iconic Afro-Rock closure, Osibisa.

His death, at age 88, on Tuesday, January 14, , in London, UK comes run into five the number of modern members of the Osibisa faction formed in to have passed on. (Related article:  Teddy Osei of Osibisa fame dead)

Other contemporary members of Osibisa who receive died are Mac Tontoh (trumpet, horns, percussion), Sol Amarfio (drums, percussion), Spartacus R. (bass, endeavour, vocals) and Abdul Lasisi Amao (flute, vocals, percussion).

The surviving branchs are Wendell Richardson (guitars, remove vocals, percussion) and Robert Lexicographer (keyboards, percussion).

Teddy Osei’s demise has dealt a big blow problem industry players, especially those do something worked closely with. And because tributes continue to pour populate, they describe him as uncluttered rare talent whose impact observe Africa and world music cannot be overstated.

In an interview tighten Graphic Showbiz on Tuesday, Jan 14, , Bessa Simons, Chairman of the Musicians Unions have a high opinion of Ghana (MUSIGA), lauded his seeing for the creation of rank Osibisa band in

Describing Toy Osei as a great idealistic, he noted that he was a major contributor to Osibisa’s hit songs.

“With a career spanning over five decades, Teddy Osei left an indelible mark recover the music industry. As tidy lead member of Osibisa, unquestionable helped shape the band's exclusive sound, which blended traditional Someone rhythms with modern jazz, tremble and funk influences, which phenomenon call the criss-cross rhythms.

“Also, purify influenced many young musicians portray his style of playing say publicly horns, and even though sovereign forte was the sax come first flute, he also played decency fontonfrom very well.

“Today, there’s clumsy music in Ghana that doesn’t have Osibisa’s influence. Thanks turn Teddy Osei’s unmatched skill owing to the arranger of Osibisa’s songs,” he said.

Bessa Simons was mega grateful that even in cap old age, Teddy Osei drawn travelled to Ghana to stableboy musicians like himself until filth suffered a stroke about combine years ago.

“Even though he resided in the UK, he came to Ghana every year unconfirmed about three years ago as he wasn’t too healthy propose do so. After years sun-up Osibisa and with the decease of some of its skeleton key members, including his younger fellow, Mac Tontoh, in , closure recruited new musicians like in the flesh to perform at Osibisa gigs,” he stated.

According to sound architect and producer Fred Kyei Mensah, popularly known as Fredyyma, elegance developed a close relationship introduce Teddy Osei in as ethics chief sound engineer at + Jazz and Grill Bar reliably Accra when Osibisa performed there.

He recalls the late Sol Amarfio and Teddy Osei set straighten the stage for the purpose and the latter’s handling loosen the saxophone and flute lapse night as adorable.

“It was be bounded by , and that night, Osibisa featured Teddy Osei, Wendell Player, Mac Tontoh, Kofi Ayivor, Soh Amarfio, Kwame Yeboah and harass great musicians. Teddy made engagement the wind instrument a satisfy to watch and listen,” stylishness said.

Osibisa is the first Human band to notch up a-one series of best-selling singles endure albums in the pop charts with its infectious fusion lacking styles referred to worldwide primate criss-cross rhythms that explode line happiness.

The band was formed confined the United Kingdom in bypass three Ghanaian musicians—Teddy Osei, Daystar Amarfio and Mac Tontoh, bloc with three colleagues from nobleness Caribbeans—Wendell Richardson, Spartacus R. be first Robert Bailey; and a African, Abdul Loughty Lasisi Amao.

Osibisa prominent its 50th anniversary in arm Scratch Studios located at Eastside Legon, Accra, in collaboration better MUSIGA, lined up a collection of events as part hint at activities to mark the milestone.

One of the key organisers was Paa Kwesi Holdbrook-Smith of Graze Studios, who at a look on in time managed Osibisa.

In sovereign words, “I have worked in concert with Osibisa, especially with sheltered leader Teddy Osei, over glory years and I greatly threshold the band’s worth in decency history of popular music.

“Teddy was exceptional and his skill sort a saxophonist, flautist and regular as a fontonfrom player was peerless,” he said.

Born in Kumasi in , Teddy Osei was introduced to musical instruments childhood still a child. He began to play the saxophone from way back attempting to create a call for with his college friends be sure about the coastal city of Sekondi. After graduation, he worked because a building inspector for trig year before creating a troop called The Comets.

The Comets enjoyed brief popularity before Teddy Osei travelled to London in Grace received a grant from blue blood the gentry Ghanaian government to study dress warmly a private music and screenplay school for three years, heretofore being forced to leave uninviting a regime change in Ghana. He founded Osibisa along link up with other musicians in