30 Apr 25 13:00H
With Guest: 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 Africa. Ambolley's early years of musical interest dates back to the age of eight. The young music enthusiast learned the rudiments of music from the late Sammy Lartey. As a singer, songwriter, producer and "musical-life-force" he exploded onto the Ghanaian music scene in 1973 with a jazzy highlife sound called Simigwa-Do. He has toured throughout West Africa, Europe, Canada, and the United States. He has performed on the same stage with some of the world’s most celebrated artists such as; Miriam Makeba and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. He has played the Playboy Jazz Festival, the House of Blues in Hollywood, and the Jazz Bakery in California. Ambolley has received numerous prestigious accolades and awards. In 2003 Ambolley was recognized for his commitment to his musical craft with a "Lifetime Achievement Musical Award" and then Inducted into the "Jazz at Drew Music Hall of Fame" at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA. and in 2013 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ghana Music Awards in 2013. Nana Kobina Nketsia of Essikado, Sekondi honored him as Nana Gyedu Blay Ambolley, “King of Simigwa Music in Sekondi” in the Western Region of Ghana. L.A.Weekly nominated Ambolley for "Best World Beat Recombinant Artists" in 2003. "The genre of Ambolley's music is entertainingly elevating and spiritually inescapable, such that its uniqueness transcends all musical categories.” He has 34 albums to his credit. Follow his journey @gyedublay_official.