The deaths involve high profile musicians raising questions as to what exactly is happening on the music scene.
It must be stated that each time a Ghanaian musician dies; it has serious repercussions since musicians are loved and have great influence in our society.
Over the weekened, news broke that popular musician Theopilus Tagoe, aka Castro, had died in a jet ski accident while on holiday with footballer Asamoah Gyan and other friends.
Ghana’s classical highlife musician, Dr. Paa Bobo, Ronnie Coaches of popular award-winning group BUK BAK fame, veteran highlife musician Thomas Frimpong, and Fennec Okyere, manager of Hiplife artiste Kwaw Kesse, all died in less than one year.
While the deaths of Dr. Paa Bobo and Thomas Frimpongs can be understandable because they were relatively old, the same cannot be said of Ronnie Coaches, Fennec Okyere, as well as Castro, because they are all less than 40 years old.
Ronnie died at the age 36 while Okyere was killed at the age 32 years. Castro is also 32 years old.
Theophilus Tagoe, aka Castro
Theophilus Tagoe, aka ‘Castro, who has been described as the ’50 Cent of Ghana’ was reported missing after trying to rescue drowning Janet Bandu near the coastal town of Ada.
The 32-year-old singer, whose real name is Theophilus Tagoe, along with Bandu, Ghanaian striker Gyan and some friends, hired jet skis from The Aqua Safari Resort on Saturday.
Bandu is said to have fallen from the back of the jet ski Castro was riding, and witnesses say he jumped in to try and rescue her.
Black Stars striker Gyan frequently takes holidays in the region and was visiting following Ghana’s exit from the World Cup after the group stage.
Aside being captain of his national side, Gyan had recently appeared as a guest vocalist on some of Castro’s biggest hits.
Castro, whose style is described as ‘ hiplife’ a combination of hip-hop and highlife, is one of Ghana’s top-earning musicians.
Ronnie Coaches
Ronnie Coaches died on Thursday, November 21, 2013.
He was reported to have suffered a heart attack before giving up the ghost at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The sad news came on the heels of the groups new single ‘Feelings’ and ‘Ex Girlfriend.’
Buk Bak started off as a 3-man rap group with Prince Bright, Ronnie Coaches and Shoetan.
The trio registered a sensational hit with ‘Komi Ke Kena’ and soon became a household name. Their light-hearted and often amusing lyrics and catchy rhythms had both the old and young dancing.
However, Shoetan had to quit the group for his studies abroad. The remaining two remained strong and together and continued to release amazing hits after hits.
They went on to enjoy more success with albums like Awensem, Sika Kokoo and Gold Coast.
They have won several Ghana Music Awards and have performed in major cities across the globe.
Buk Bak was the first Hiplife group to be successful with Ga lyrics in Ghana. They rap in Ga, Twi and Pidgin.
They also banded with groups like K-2 (Juliana) and 4x4 to release more hit tracks.
In 2006, Ronnie and Bridget pursued separate projects.
Bright debut album was quite successful with tracks like ‘Condom’ and ‘What Dem Plan.’
Some of their hit songs are Gonja Barracks, Komi Ke Kese,Klu Blofo, Chingilingi, Kelewele, Trotro, Dienpo, Akwasi Broni, Tankase, U 4 know say, Kakatsofa, Kakalika, Twen Me, Akwele ne Akuoko, Yenko Ne Brebre, Ma Me Odo, kululu, Bibini Ba.
Fennec Okyere
Fennec Okyere, manager of hiplife artiste Kwaw Kesse aka ‘Abodam,’ was on Thursday, March 13 cruelly murdered in cold blood by unknown assailants at his Manet Gardens residence, off the Spintex Road in Accra
The 32-year-old businessman was found lying in a pool of blood with his face down in his bedroom, on the first floor of the storey building. He was shot at the left side of his stomach.
The assailants were reported to have used cement blocks to break into the study and the bedroom, where Fennec was lying, before he was attacked.
His bathroom was also said to have been smeared with blood as live ammunitions were found inside it.
Fennec’s bedroom was also vandalized, heightening suspicion that his attackers might have been looking for something valuable.
Dr. Paa Bobo
Classic highlife musician Dr. Paa Bobo died at about 2pm on Saturday, December 28, 2013 after battling with sickness at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for some weeks.
Dr. Paa Bobo’s real name is Kwaku Agyapong Danemah. He was born in 1951 in the eastern part of Ghana (Akyim Maase).
In 1968, Kwaku Agyapong Danemah started his music career by learning how to play rudiments of goiter from Smart Nkansah (Ghana’s ace guitarist) and later formed a band in Nigeria – Aba (Former Imo State).
Standing as the only African music legend who recorded two hit albums in two hours with Decca Nigeria, Dr. Paa Bobo has 40 albums to his credit and 35 great hit songs.
The multi award-winning superstar and African legend has worked with great names like Okukuseku International Band, All Brothers Band, the Kusum Agoromma (Drama studio now known as National Theatre), and Smart Nkansah. And has toured and musically explored countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast, United Kingdom, Italy and Holland.
Thomas Frimpong
On Wednesday, September 18, 2013, Ghana’s music industry was once again hit by sad news, with the death of veteran highlife musician Thomas Frimpong.
His untimely death occurred while doctors were trying to save his life at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after an under-closed illness.
As a musician, Thomas hoped to reach the top of the highlife ladder. He was with the Noble Kings for about 17 years and helped solidify the popular ‘sikyi’ beat. Some of the songs he either wrote or co-wrote with guitarist Eric Agyeman for the Noble Kings included ‘Obaa Baako Agyemang Me,’ ‘Mebewu A Mennim,’ and Nsem Keke Adooso.’
He went solo after leaving the band and recorded the ‘Sasakroma’ album before leaving for London. While in London, he released popular songs such as ‘Odo Pa’,’Aye Yi’, ‘Mada Meho So,’ Okwan Bi, Wobre’, Okesi Ama, and ‘Kweku Anansi.’
One of the projects Frimpong embarked on when he returned to Ghana form London was to team up with colleagues Agyaaku and Eric Agyeman to record an album titled The Giants.’
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