Ghanaian Highlife Icon Ebo Taylor Dies at 90, Celebrated as Founding Father of Contemporary Highlife. Accra, Ghana — February 10, 2026 Lead Paragraph: Ghanaian highlife legend Ebo Taylor, a guitarist, composer, and bandleader, passed away at the age of 90, marking the end of a six-decade career that significantly influenced modern popular music in West Africa. Taylor, often hailed as one of the founding fathers of contemporary highlife, died just a month after celebrating his 90th birthday.
Taylor’s music, a blend of Ghanaian rhythms with jazz, funk, soul, and early Afrobeat, has left an indelible mark on the music world. His influence extended beyond Ghana, with his work inspiring generations of musicians across the African continent and globally. Highlife, the genre he helped shape, was recently recognized by UNESCO as part of its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
The news of Taylor’s passing has sparked an outpouring of tributes from across the globe. “
The world has lost a giant.
A colossus of African music, “a statement shared on his official page read.
The Los Angeles — based collective Jazz Is Dead called him a pioneer of highlife and Afrobeat, while Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy and American producer Adrian Younge, who has collaborated with Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar, also paid homage to his legacy. Born Deroy Taylor in Cape Coast in 1936, Taylor began his musical journey in the 1950s as highlife was gaining prominence in Ghana. Known for his intricate guitar lines and rich horn arrangements, he played with leading bands including the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band.
In the early 1960s, he traveled to London to study music, where he collaborated with other African musicians, including Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Upon his return to Ghana, Taylor became a sought-after arranger and producer, working with stars such as Pat Thomas and CK Mann while leading his own bands. Officials commented on the matter.
The music world mourns the loss of Ebo Taylor, whose contributions to highlife and music as a whole will continue to inspire future generations. Further details about his funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
