Ghanaian music has lost one of its most influential architects with the death of legendary guitarist, composer and highlife pioneer Ebo Taylor at the age of 90.
Taylor’s family confirmed his passing on Sunday through a post shared on his official Instagram page, without disclosing the cause of death.
The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) later announced that the celebrated musician died at the Saltpond Hospital.
His death came at a poignant moment, just a day after the launch of the first-ever Ebo Taylor Music Festival and exactly one month after he marked his 90th birthday.
“The world has lost a giant. A colossus of African music,” the post reads.
“Ebo Taylor passed away yesterday; a day after the launch of Ebo Taylor Music Festival and exactly a month after his 90th birthday, leaving behind an unmatched artistry legacy. @ebo.taylor your light will never fade.”
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Born Deroy Taylor on January 6, 1936, in Cape Coast, he emerged as a defining force in Ghana’s music scene during the late 1950s and 1960s, when highlife dominated the airwaves.
He built his early reputation performing with prominent bands such as the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band, earning admiration for his sophisticated guitar technique and complex musical arrangements.
Over a career spanning more than six decades, Taylor continually pushed creative boundaries. His music blended traditional Ghanaian rhythms with elements of jazz, funk, soul and the foundations of Afrobeat, shaping the soundscape of modern African music and inspiring artists across generations.
One of the most significant chapters of his career unfolded in the 1960s when he relocated with his Black Star Highlife Band to London, a move that led to a historic collaboration with Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti.
Upon returning to Ghana, he went on to lead notable ensembles including the Ghana Black Star Band and the Uhuru Dance Band, while working closely with celebrated musicians such as CK Mann, Pat Thomas and the Apagya Show Band throughout the 1970s.
Although revered in West Africa for decades, Taylor’s global profile expanded in 2010 following the international release of his album Love and Death on Strut Records.
The renewed attention paved the way for later critically acclaimed projects, including Appia Kwa Bridge (2012) and Yen Ara (2018).
His enduring musical legacy is captured in a rich catalogue of timeless songs, among them Heaven, Atwer Abroba, Life Stories, Ayesama, Saana and You Need Love.
Ebo Taylor is widely celebrated as one of the most important figures in Ghana’s musical history, leaving behind a body of work that continues to influence African and global music long after his passing.
