E.T. Mensah
E.T. Mensah, the multi-instrumentalist, bandleader and undisputed King of Highlife, who sadly died in 1996 was the artist who inspired RetroAfric's mission to re-present classic tracks by Africa's masters of popular music.
The first collection, All For You, was released as a vinyl LP in 1986. Since then technology has moved on apace and the label has re-mastered the original material which is now cleaner and more splendid than ever. The album has been brought up to CD length with the addition of three previously unavailable tracks. A new catalogue number for All For You [RETRO1XCD] denotes the added value version. A second compilation album from the early 1960s Day By Day [RETRO3CD] was RetroAfric's first CD format release, which included the perennially popular title track.
E.T. Mensah [May 31, 1919 - July 19, 1996]
E.T. Mensah, the undisputed King of Highlife, was one the founding fathers of African popular music. His career stretched from the early 1930s to the late 1980s, and his music reached beyond Ghana to all corners of Africa and Europe.
Emmanuel Tettey Mensah was a natural musician, whose talent was spotted at school by 'Teacher' Joe Lamptey. When Lamptey formed the Accra Orchestra in the early 1930s E.T. joined as a piccolo player. He soon progressed to saxophone and also learned to play organ and trumpet.
After leaving school he teamed up with his brother Yebuah and the influential jazz drummer Guy Warren [Kofi Ghanaba] in the Accra Rhythmic Orchestra. European dance music was the prevailing fashion but, during World War II, musicians picked up new developments from Black American and West Indian comrades who were stationed in the Gold Coast. There were also ex-professional European musicians with the Allied forces, and E.T. joined Sergeant Jack Leopard and his Black and White Spots.
E.T. was also studying pharmacy. In 1943 he qualified and was stationed in the Ashanti region. When he returned to Accra in 1947 he joined the original Tempos band with Joe Kelly and Guy Warren. Warren had travelled to Europe and America, playing with Afro-Cuban musicians and he returned with the latest records, including calypsos. This refreshing influence became part of post-war highlife, which was now directed to a more solidly African audience.
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