Remembering Ebo Taylor: A Legacy in Highlife Music

Mon Feb 09 2026 01:50:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ebo Taylor, the pioneering Ghanaian musician who shaped the sound of highlife, has passed away at the age of 90, leaving behind a rich legacy that influenced generations of artists across Africa and beyond.

Ebo Taylor, the celebrated Ghanaian guitarist and composer, known for his instrumental role in the highlife music genre, has died at the age of 90. Born in Cape Coast in 1936, Taylor's music blended Ghanaian rhythms with jazz and funk, inspiring musicians both locally and globally. His recent comeback introduced him to a new audience, solidifying his status as a foundational figure in African music.

Ebo Taylor, the Ghanaian guitarist, composer, and band leader whose work helped define the highlife genre and influenced generations of African musicians, has died at the age of 90, his family has announced.

Born Deroy Taylor in the city of Cape Coast in 1936, he rose to prominence during the late 1950s and early 1960s as highlife became Ghana's dominant musical form.

He played with the era's leading bands, including the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band, and gained a reputation for a distinctive guitar style and detailed arrangements.

Over a six-decade career, he fused Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk, soul, and early Afrobeat, going on to inspire musicians beyond the continent.

In the last 25 years of his life, his music was rediscovered by a global audience with the release of tracks like Love & Death – his reflection on relationships and mortality – driving a fresh host of fans.

A formative period in Taylor's musical development came in the early 1960s when he traveled to London to study music. There, he worked alongside other African musicians, including Nigerian artist Fela Kuti. Their collaboration is now viewed as part of a wider exchange of ideas that helped shape Afrobeat, the genre Fela would later bring to international attention, incorporating highlife's musical foundations.

On his return to Ghana, Taylor became a sought-after band leader, arranger, and producer, working with some of the country's most respected artists, including Pat Thomas and CK Mann.

Reflecting on his own influences, he shared his experiences in integrating funk into highlife music, noting the significant innovation and cultural continuity his work represented.

Throughout his life, Taylor delighted in teaching music at the University of Ghana, contributing to the education of many young musicians.

His influence extended far beyond highlife. In recent decades, his work has appeared in songs by various hip-hop and R&B artists, showcasing the far-reaching impact of his music.

As tributes flow in from the music community, Taylor is remembered as a legend whose contributions to music created ripples across the globe. His music will continue to inform contemporary styles and will remain central to the story of African popular music.