POSTED ON
August 23, 2015
Jewel Ackah – London Connection
Dassi Records 1984
I really can’t tell you anything useful about this artist.
Untill this record I never heard his music. Wanted to
post something from Ghana but the choice is getting
smaller. The album is from 1984 and was recorded in
London as you can see. If anyone knows something
we’d like to hear aout this somehow funny and
funky hihlife, please leave us a message..
tracks;
01 – Grace soronko
02 – Me nyame hume mbobo
03 – Mampaw nyowa bebe
04 – Mo ngyae me
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found on AllMusic:
b. February 1945, Nzima, Ghana. Ackah started his career as a professional footballer, but went on to use his powerful, soul-tinged vocals with the cover-version band the Pick Ups in 1965. This was followed by stints with C.K. Mann’s Carousel Seven, the Eldoradoes and the Medican Lantics. He was also vocalist with the Sweet Talks at various times between 1975 and 1979, and during one of his periods away from the band in the late 70s, he rejoined Mann for an American tour. In 1979 he fronted a new Sweet Talks line-up, and recorded Hallelujah! Amen! with a backing group he called S.T. Express. In 1980, he recorded the solo collection Asomdwee Henee, and then joined the Great Pilsner’s Band, a brewery-sponsored outfit that enjoyed a brief run of popularity. However, it was drugs, not lager, that took the sparkle from the Great Pilsner’s; about to tour the Ivory Coast, they were discovered in possession of marijuana, and the band folded. In 1980, Ackah joined up with guitarist Kwame Nkrumah to make Yeridi A Wu, a loving and masterful re-recording of highlife hits from the 50s. In the mid-80s, in an unsuccessful attempt to find an international audience, he recorded the soca-influenced Super Pawa, and then the funk-highlife fusion London Connection. More enduring was his 1986 album, Electric Hi-Life, which found a more mature, thoughtful Ackah performing alongside Pat Thomas and A.B. Crentsil. He continued his peripatetic existence as a solo artist and band vocalist in Accra and London until settling in Toronto, Canada, in the late 80s. For 1991’s Pull Him Down he renamed his band the Butterfly Six.
greetings and thanks
recycler
Good ones Moos … Jewel Ackah is well known in the Ghana highlife scene & has been around since the late 70’s … He comes from the same Western Region in Ghana as other artistes like F. Kenya, Safohene Djeni, Nyame Bekyere band, Sea Boy, Awiema Little John etc … They are the Nzema people , sharing a border with a Francophone country (Cote D’ivoire) so it’s usually beautiful melodies & excellent guitar play …
I remember Jewel Ackah used to be a regular feature on a live band program called “Guinness music for your dancing feet” in the early 90’s when he was leading vocals for the Western Diamonds Band … He has also had collaborations with a lot of artistes like Pat Thomas, AB Crentsil, C K Mann etc
add on:
Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/artist/1123571-Jewel-Ackah
greetings from vienna
and once more DANKE! for all your posts
recycler
Thank you, Moos, for this obscurity. And thanks to those who responded in such detail with information about the artist.
Unfortunately, Jewel Ackah died in April this year (2018).