167:. After graduating from college, he worked as a building inspector for a year before creating a band called "The Comets." The Comets enjoyed brief popularity before Osei traveled to London in 1962. He received a grant from the Ghanaian government to study at a private music and drama school for three years, before being forced to leave by a regime change in Ghana. In 1969, he founded Osibisa along with several other musicians. The band remained popular through the 1970s, before experiencing a decline, although it continues to perform today.
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187:. He was the second of seven children in the family. His date of birth is unknown due to the absence of record keeping in Ghana at the time; his mother later estimated that he was born in December 1937. In keeping with his family's tradition, each child was given a different last name. Teddy Osei was named after the Ashanti king
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The band became an instant success, producing several songs that reached the
British top-ten. They were even more popular when playing live. During the late 1970s they played on several international tours to India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and several African countries. In 1980 the band played
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While at college, he attempted to put together a band along with some of his friends. According to Osei, he only began to play the saxophone because the person who had volunteered for that instrument did not attend the practices. He continued to teach himself the saxophone, listening to records of
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In 1962 Osei travelled to London, leaving the Comets behind. Having spent his money on travel, he lived with some friends in London, and worked as a dish-washer for a year. He then applied for and received a grant from the
Ghanaian government, which allowed him to attend a private music and drama
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musicians and playing along with the music. After beginning work as an inspector, he created a semi-professional band along with his brother and some friends. The band was known as the "Comets," and became successful in Ghana, recording with
Philips West Africa and playing for a radio show. Their
302:. However, by the early 1980s, it had begun to lose popularity, and also had differences with its recording agents. Several members left the band, although Osei continued to perform. Despite their decline in popularity, Osibisa continue to perform today.
191:. Osei's father was an amateur musician who played the horn in the local church band, thus exposing Osei to music while he was still young. He was introduced to traditional musical instruments by his school teacher, and played the
219:. After completing his degree, Osei returned to Kumasi and worked as a building inspector for a brief while, before choosing to become a professional musician. Teddy has two daughters Matilda and Shanta Osei.
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mission school, where he experienced harsh discipline. He later stated that he had been more afraid of the teachers there than any others in his life. He became a popular athlete at the school, as well as an
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to study draftsmanship at a college. Sekondi was an important commercial and cultural hub, and he encountered a number of modern musicians and genres there. During this time he was influenced by
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school for three years. However, his grant was terminated after
Nkrumah was deposed in 1966. Osei teamed up with several other students who had also lost their positions and began to play
163:, Osei was introduced to musical instruments while still a child. He began to play the saxophone while attempting to create a band with his college friends in the coastal city of
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in the school band. He also frequented the
Ashanti palace, where he occasionally learned folk songs from visiting musicians. After completing pre-school, Osei was enrolled at a
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venues around London while it tried to find financial support. During this period Osei played flute and
African drums as well as saxophone.
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In 1969, Osei, Amarfio, and MacTontoh came together with other musicians that they had been previously acquainted with to form
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fisherman's traditional music. In its early stages
Osibisa had neither an agent nor a manager. The band played at
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253:. However, the group eventually returned to the UK, looking for a more permanent financial situation.
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Williams, Richard; Welch, Chris (1 July 1972). "Melody Maker Band
Breakdown: Teddy Osei".
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Following his graduation, Osei worked as an office boy for a year, before moving to
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Collins, John (October 1989). "The Early
History of West African Highlife Music".
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A Day in the Life: One Family, the
Beautiful People, and the End of the Sixties
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of Ghana. At birth, he was christened "Francis" by his parents, who were
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Osibisa: Living in the State of Happy Vibes and Criss Cross Rhythms
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at various venues across Europe. The group acquired a following in
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143:(born December 1937) is a musician and
282:. The new band derived its name from
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35:Osei performing with Osibisa in 2008
474:. Da Capo Press. pp. 157–158.
548:21st-century Ghanaian male singers
543:20th-century Ghanaian male singers
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16:Ghanaian saxophonist and musician
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107:Saxophone, flute, drums, vocals
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553:Ghanaian highlife musicians
468:Greenfield, Robert (2009).
159:, founded in 1969. Born in
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368:Aniagolu, Charles (2004).
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444:10.1017/s0261143000003524
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558:Ghanaian Roman Catholics
374:. Trafford Publishing.
233:music was inspired by "
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41:Background information
563:Musicians from Kumasi
272:Further information:
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223:Early musical career
503:"Osibisa Biography"
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68:(age 86)
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268:at a concert
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147:player from
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117:1969–present
113:Years active
51:Francis Osei
533:1937 births
292:psychedelic
247:Switzerland
527:Categories
306:References
284:osibisaaba
243:soul music
141:Teddy Osei
96:Occupation
62:1937-12-01
47:Birth name
23:Teddy Osei
319:"Osibisa"
202:altar boy
193:bass drum
189:Osei Tutu
145:saxophone
507:AllMusic
300:Zimbabwe
235:Highlife
197:Catholic
153:Afro-pop
99:Musician
90:Afro-pop
280:Osibisa
274:Osibisa
266:Osibisa
257:Osibisa
251:Osibisa
209:Sekondi
165:Sekondi
157:Osibisa
126:Website
512:14 May
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452:931273
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177:Kumasi
161:Kumasi
86:Genres
72:Kumasi
487:9 May
448:JSTOR
387:8 May
328:8 May
288:Fante
155:band
149:Ghana
80:Ghana
514:2015
489:2015
476:ISBN
419:(1).
389:2015
376:ISBN
330:2015
230:jazz
56:Born
440:doi
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
