Kwame Asare

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

Kwame Asare
Birth nameJacob Sam
Born1903
Cape Coast, Ghana
OriginAccra, Ghana
Died1950
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Guitarist
  • singer
  • composer
  • bandleader
  • record producer
Years activeLate 1920s–1950s

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.[4] He pioneered the roots of Central African music's with gutsy, baritone vocals, and lyrics in the Fante language.

Death

Asare died in the 1950s.[5]

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


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