Blay Ambolley: Afrikan Jaazz, "A New Sound in Town"

Gyedu Blay Ambolley

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, affectionately known as the "Simigwa Do Man", was born in the port city of Sekondi-Takoradi, in the Western Region of Ghana, West Afrika.

The multi-talented, International, Ghanaian Musician, celebrated his "Silver Jubilee" in music in 1998. This versatile, irrepressible singer, songwriter, producer and "musical-life-force" exploded on the music scene twenty-five years ago with a jazzy highlife sounds called ?SIMIGWA-DO?.

Ambolley?s early years of musical interest dates back to the age of eight, when he began playing with his father?s flute until he was able to teach himself how to play. His formal musical training came at the age of fourteen under the apprenticeship of "Uncle Bonku" who taught him the guitar. The young music enthusiast continued to learn the rudiments of music from ?the late? Sammy Lartey and Ebo Taylor.

Ambolley spend a great part of his day listening to records of musicians living in the United States. He contributes his free style of singing to such mentors as James Brown, Ray Charles, and ?the late? Sam Cook. During the sixties, the young aspiring musician was excitingly impressed with the music her heard on the popular radio show, "Voice of America Jazz Hour." The sixties show featured such jazz giants as Jimmy Smith, Max Roach, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Eckstine.. all became part of Ambolley?s early musical experience.

Ambolley?s name has become synonymous with Simigwa music and dance sine his first hit single was released in 1973. Since that hit, he has lead many bands including his own in 1979-80. The band leaders? talent was not limited to Ghana. Ambolley was invited to London where he performed to "standing room only" crowds.

Having experienced success in his own country, as well as London, it was time for the ambitious musician to test his musical abilities elsewhere. In 1988, Ambolley left Ghana and arrived in New York (U.S.A.).

Ambolley's performance career is extensive. He has toured throughout West Afrika, Europe, Canada, and the United States. He has performed on the same stage with some of the worlds most celebrated artists, such as Miriam Makeba of South Afrika, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti of Nigeria, the late George Howard,Angela Bofill, Norman Connors, Manu DeBango, Lakeside, Chikuzan Takahashi of Japan, Ricardo Estrada of Cuba, Mayuto Correa of Brazil and toured Ghana with Oscar Brashear and Michael Session. Because of his originality, his performances have left audiences raving and shouting for more, as was the case at the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. He has played the House of Blues in Hollywood, is a frequent performer at the Jazz Bakery in California and has played to "standing room only" crowds in London, England.

Returning to Ghana in 1997, Ambolley was honored with a standing ovation from his former President, J.J. Rawlings and the first lady at Ghana?s Music Awards Nite ?97.

Ambolley has seventeen albums to his credit and has received numerous musical awards. His stage works and music have embraced audiences around the world. It has been said that "the genre on Ambolley?s music in entertainingly elevating and spiritually inescapable, such that its uniqueness transcends all musical categories... after all, according to Ambolley, there is but "ONE PEOPLE, ONE WORLD, ONE DESTINY."