Kwame Asare Explained

Kwame Asare
Birth Name:Jacob Sam
Birth Date:1903
Death Date:1950
Birth Place:Cape Coast, Ghana
Origin:Accra, Ghana
Years Active:Late 1920sā€“1950s

Kwame Asare, best known as Jacob Sam (1903 on the Cape Coast ā€“ 1950s), was the first to record Ghanaian highlife music and was the first highlife guitarist.[1] [2]

Life and career

He was a trained goldsmith. He moved to Kumasi and formed the Kumasi Trio. He was taught guitar by a Liberian seaman. He is known to be the first Ghanaian to record highlife music in Ghana known as "Yaa Amponsah". In 1928, on Zonophone in London's Kingsway Hall EZ series, he recorded guitar-band highlife classic music with his melodic and finger-style guitar picking. He was accompanied by the Kumasi Trio, featuring guitarist H.E. Binney and percussionist Kwah Kanta.[3]

Under the name "Kwanin" he recorded his voice over on the JZ series. His recordings in 1928 were in Fante languages.Under the name "Kwanin" he recorded his voice over on the JZ series. His recordings in 1928 were in Fante languages.[4]

Death

Asare died in the 1950s.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ghana's Highlife Music Collection: Jacob Sam. 2020-08-16. www.fondation-langlois.org.
  2. Web site: 2013-10-28. Highlife music dates as far back as 19th century- Prof. Collins. 2020-08-16. MyJoyOnline.com. en-US.
  3. News: 2020-05-07. Legends of Ghanaian Highlife Music: Kwame Asare (Jacob Sam) (1903-1950s) - African Research Consult. en-US. African Research Consult. 2020-08-16.
  4. Web site: Jacob Sam Biography & History. 2020-08-16. AllMusic. en-us.
  5. Web site: A Plus, Biography . 2023-01-28 . www.ghanaweb.com.