Bessa Simons: We must revive live band in Ghana

Ghanaian highlife legend Bessa Simons is advocating for the revival of live band in Ghana to boost the local music industry.

Simons, who is the acting president of the Musicians’ Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), said the move will help create jobs and unearth talents.

Taking his turn on the “Red Carpet” segment on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (6 September), Uncle Bess, as he is affectionately called, commended upcoming artists such as Kofi Kinaata for setting the pace for the current generation to follow.

“Coming back to Ghana, I realise live music would have to come again because that is the place where musicians can express themselves more than what is on the record,” the Belembe hitmaker said.

“When you play with live band you get interactive with the audience,” he added. “I was in Cape Coast over the weekend for the Fetu Afahye and Kofi Kinaata played there, it was raining and people were dancing in the rain.”

“So, we need more live bands in Ghana. It also creates jobs for musicians, because when they play live band, the sound engineer gets paid, singers, backing vocalists and quite a number of people as well,” Simons said.

Listen to Bessa Simons in the attached audio clip below: 

About Bessa Simons

The acting president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) Bessa Simons aka Uncle Bess was born into a family of musicians. His father was a choir master, organist and music teacher.

While at Aggrey Memorial Boarding school, Cape Coast, Bessa played in the school Band. As the leader of the Pelicans band of Cape Coast they won first prize at the Big Band competition held in Accra by the Arts Council of Ghana in the early seventies.

A graduate of the National Academy of Music in Winneba now rechristened as the University of Education, Winneba, he also has a diploma from the School of Audio Engineering in London.

Onetime member of the greatest African group ever Osibisa, Bessa is a prolific song writer, keyboardist and singer.

He has also worked with some of the greatest names in Ghana ranging from Ebo Taylor through Pat Thomas, Papa Yankson, Kari Bannerman, C.K.Mann, Gyedu Blay Ambuley and the gospel evergreens, Tagoe Sisters.

Currently a board member of the VGMAs, and the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) Bessa has five albums to his credit with a catalogue of hits such as Sii Nana, Awoye and Belembe.

He leads the Bessa Band in addition to teaching and mentoring young musicians.

Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra

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