Ever wondered why most veteran Highlife musicians, including the likes of renowned musician Agya Koo Nimo, and others, referred to a certain guitar as “Amponsah”?
It all started when the first Ghanaian Highlife artiste, Kwame Asare, and his group composed a popular song titled “Yaa Amponsah.”
Kwame Asare, born Jacob Sam, was born in 1903 in Cape Coast.
He was the first Ghanaian Highlife musician and also the first Highlife guitarist to record a song in the then Gold Coast, now Ghana.
Piesie Esther’s ‘Nyame Ye’ dominates the gospel scene
Sam Jacob, who was a trained goldsmith, moved to Kumasi at the beginning of his career and formed a group called Kumasi Trio.
The young musician, who was taught how to play guitar by a Liberian seaman in 1928, recorded his first guitar-band Highlife classic music with his melodic and finger-style guitar, picking on the Zonophone label in London.
During his first recording, Jacob Sam was accompanied by his group, the Kumasi Trio.
Grammy Academy approves Shatta Wale’s ‘Street Crown’ for consideration
The song also featured guitarist HE Binney and percussionist Kwah Kanta.
Sam Jacob became active in music in the late 1920s and 1950s.
And also under the name “Kwanin,” he recorded his voice-over on the JZ series.
The legendary Highlife musician passed on in the 1950s at the age of 47 after battling a brief illness.
Listen to the song below:
JHM/AE
