Castro (musician)

Theophilus Tagoe (born 1 May 1982, disappeared 6 July 2014), popularly known as Castro or Castro Under Fire, was a Ghanaian hiplife recording artist and musician.

Castro
Background information
Birth nameTheophilus Tagoe
Born(1982-05-01)1 May 1982
Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana
OriginGhana
GenresHiplife
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
DisappearedJuly 6, 2014 (aged 32)
Ada Estuary
StatusMissing for 9 years, 3 months and 20 days

Early life and career

He was born in Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana in 1982 to Lydia Tagoe (a trader) and a Mr. Cofie (an accountant). He had his primary and Junior high education at the All Saints Anglican Primary School in Takoradi.[1] He started singing as early as age 10 and entered the musical scene with his 2003 hit song "Sradenam". He had features on the hip-life group 4x4 hit track, "Sikletele," which officially introduced him to the local music scene before he launched his debut album in 2003."Sradinam" soon became one of many Ghanaians' favorite hits.[2]

Castro's dream was to retire and become a producer. His dream was to help bring to the limelight talented unknown young artist. He believes that this will develop the young talented artist and groom them for the market by becoming a producer.

Castro was a friend of Ghana national football team's captain, Asamoah Gyan. The duo recorded three albums together.[3] "African Girls" was another hit of theirs.[4]

Disappearance

On 6 July 2014, Castro and Miss Janet Bandu were reported to have drowned following a jet ski accident in Ada Estuary while on holiday with the Gyan brothers. The jet ski involved in the accident was recovered[5] on the same day of their disappearance but their bodies had not been recovered, despite a search by the police. Little is known of his disappearance.[6]

Recounting events surrounding Castro's disappearance, Gyan said: "That was the first time they went to Aqua Safari and that in the previous years, they went to Akosombo. That particular year, the yacht at Akosombo was broken down so they decided to go to Ada. Before going to Ada, they called to find out if they could get a bigger yacht because, their friends always organised to bring their lady friends so as to make the party fun, so they were told they could get two yachts at Ada. Castro called me a week before I returned to Ghana and said he may not be able to go with us since a friend of his was bereaved, and he had to attend the funeral in Kumasi. A day before we went to Ada, he [Castro] came to my house and said he was on his way to Kumasi and would not join us. But whilst we were on our way to Ada, on the Accra-Tema motorway, we received a phone call that "Under" [Castro] wants us to wait for him. We parked at a fuel filling station where a crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of me. I later got the inclination it was destined to happen because he was initially not part of the trip. When we got to Ada, everything went fine. We were to spend three days. We started using the Jet Ski on the second day.[7]

Awards

Ghana Music Awards

In the year 2006, he won the Hiplife Artiste of the Year as well as the Hiplife Album of the Year, with his song "Toffee". This award won him so much recognition in and outside Ghana.[8]

In the year 2011, he won the Best Hiplife Song of the Year which featured Asamoah Gyan with the song "African Girls".[8]

YearRecipientAwardResult
2006 "Toffee" Hiplife Song of the Year Won[8]
2006 "Toffee" Hiplife Album of the Year Won[8]
2011 "African Girls" Best Hiplife Song of the Year Won[8]
2014"Odo Pa"Highlife Song of the YearWon[9]

References

  1. "Hiplife Musician Castro Dead". peacefmonline.com. Peace Fm. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  2. "Theophilus Tagoe, Castro-the Destroyer". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  3. "Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan involved in tragic boat accident, musician friend Castro feared dead". Ghana Soccernet. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  4. "Singer, Castro in Juju Scandaldate=11 January 2012". Ghana Web. 30 November 2001.
  5. "Asamoah Gyan releases statement, prays for Castro's return". GraphicOnline. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  6. "Castro, Janet search team back to base". GraphicOnline. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  7. "How Castro disappeared". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  8. Gbagbo, Julitta. "A List of All Ghana Music Award Winners Since Its Inception – Kuulpeeps – Ghana Campus News and Lifestyle Site by Students". Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  9. "2014 VGMA RECIPIENTS". Ghana Music Awards. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
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