BLAY AMBOLLEY - SIMI RAPP

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 about twenty-five years ago with the jazzy highlife sounds he called 'SIMIGWA'. 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 and contributes his free style of singing to such mentors as James Brown, Ray Charles, and 'the late' Sam Cook. The aspiring musician was excitingly impressed with the music he heard on the popular radio show, "Voice of America Jazz Hour." The 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. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.