Knowing the legendary Ghanaian music icon Gyedu- Blay Ambolley.

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is a Ghanaian highlife musician, songwriter, producer, and composer. The first musician from Ghana and the world to formally incorporate rap forms into local highlife rhythms, Ambolley created the musical genre Simigwa.He was born 1947 (age 74–75) at Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana.

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley

The following are the genres he is associated to; Highlife, Afrobeat, Afropop, Jazz. He also plays the following musical instruments;
Saxophon, Bass Guitar.

He stated active music in the early1970s to present.

Labels:
Essiebons Records
Wea International.
Dix Records

Associated acts are, Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor, Uhuru Dance Band, Osibisa, E. T. Mensah

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley was rather unknown outside of West Africa until Soundway Records included his seminal Simigwa-Do which Ambolley released in 1973, on their first anthology, Ghana Soundz. Ambolley’s sound has led many to label him the godfather of hiplife, the fusion of the hip hop and highlife idioms. Ambolley stood aside AL Threats at the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles.His song Simigua-do is considered the first rap in the world released in 1973 . Ambolley, Sammy Lartey and Ebo Taylor are the few musicians who envisioned a future for high-life music in the late 60s and early 70s and helped transform the genre fusing high-life, funk and jazz music.

Achievements;
In June 2015 Ambolley received a citation in the USA from the City Council of Philadelphia, read by Council woman; Honorable Jannie Blackwell and Hon. Stanley J. Staughter in recognition of the musician’s contributions to Ghanaian music in the USA.

Awards;

Most Consistent Artist — Ghana (1980)

Album and Song of the Year — Ghana (1990)
Trend Music Awards — Ivory Coast (1997)
Africa-American History Award — MWEPC, Los Angeles, CA (2001)
Afrikan Music Award — Los Angeles, CA (2002)
Malcom X Music Festival Award — Los Angeles, CA (2002)
Lifetime Achievement Award — The Jazz at Drew from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA (2003)
Congressional, Gubernatorial Certificate of Special Recognition — Congresswoman Juanita Millinder McDonald (2003)
Best World Beat Recombinant Artist 2003 & Best World Beat Recombinant Artist 2003 L.A. Weekly nominated Ambolley for Best World Beat Recombinant Artist in 2003 and 2004

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