Osibisa
was formed in London, England in 1969 by Teddy Osei, Sol Amarfio
and Mac Tontoh , together with Spartacus R (Grenada), Robert Bailey
( Trinidad), Wendell Richardson (Antigua), and Lasisi Amao
( Nigeria). The Ghanaian members already seasoned highlife
artistes in Accra before moving to London to launch their attack on
the world stage. They were joined soon by Darko Adams on
percussions.
Joining them in the first incarnation
were Grenadian Spartacus R
(bass); Trinidadian Robert Bailey
(keyboard); Antiguan Wendell Richardson (lead guitar and
lead vocalist); and Nigerians Mike Odumosu and Fred Coker
(bass guitar)
A founding member of Osibisa,
Abdul Lasisi Amao helped bring the London-based band’s exciting
style of Afro-pop and funk fusion to the international stage. His
most innovative work, however, was the album Aiye — Keta, recorded
in 1973 with Remi Kabaka on piano, drums, conga, rhythm guitar,
Moog drum, and vocals; and Stevie Winwood (who was recuperating
from an illness that had resulted in an extended hiatus from
Traffic) on keyboards, guitar, and vocals. Amao and Kabaka had
previously collaborated as members of Ginger Baker’s short-lived
Afro-Anglo band, Air Force. Although the album, which was credited
to Third World, included the now-classic tune “Happy Vibe,” the
trio disbanded soon after it was recorded. While Winwood went on to
continued stardom with Traffic and as a solo artist, Amao and
Kabaka faded into obscurity.
Everybody … A Smile will Bring A
Sunshine Day ! Thier Hit song
watch on FLIX Live concert 2015
https://flix.i.ng/index.php/youtube/210-youtube
https://shar.i.ng/osibisa
Their
ground-breaking blend of African rhythms with Rock and Soul made
their music appeal as much to the African as it did to the European
or American. They played an integral role in developing an
awareness of African music among European and North American
audiences in the 1970s. Before Osibisa, Teddy and Sol had played
with the Star Gazers and had a hit, Pete Pete with the Comets. Mac
was also a member of the Uhuru Dance Band. Osibisa’s single, Music
For Gong Gong became an immediate hit in 1970 with three others
later making the UK Top 10: Sunshine Day, Dance The Body Music and
Coffee Song.
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Everybody … A Smile will Bring A
Sunshine Day !
Jake Solo Was another Band member
from Nigeria
In 1977 Jake Sollo returned to
Nigeria to record his first solo album, Coming Home. His long-term
band, The Funkees, had imploded in London. And his big break with
the Afro super band, Osibisa, was cut short when he went on strike
with Kiki Gyan and promptly got sacked. Rather than sit at a bar
and feel sorry for himself, Jake returned to Nigeria and got his
mates together – including the aforementioned Mr. Gyan – and headed
into the EMI studios in Lagos. The result was Coming Home, a
triumphant album that combined the raw power of The Funkees with
the slick tricks he learned in London. The opening instrumental,
‘404’, is the track Carlos Santana would have recorded if he’d been
born in Nigeria rather than Mexico. ‘Raise Your Hands’ and ‘I Just
Wanna Dance’ are slick boogie monsters and ‘Deiyo Deiyo’ sees Jake
displaying some mad synth skills on Africa’s only Prophet-5, a hot
piece of hardware that was transforming music in Europe and
America. Coming Home is the sound of an artist at the heights of
his power. And a precursor of the skills and sounds that would make
Sollo the most sought after producer in Nigeria. – Peter Moore