Celebrated as a legend on skery spark talk at Yes 102.9 fm Akwesi Ampofo Adjei’s life story was read.
The man popularly known as Mr A.A.A. passed away on 2nd August,
2004.
Akwasi Ampofo Adjei's sterling achievements in the field of drama
and music are outstanding and for almost three decades, was on the fore-front
of high-life music. No doubt he deserves to be mentioned in honours as one of
the most successful musicians in Ghana.
Having been greatly influenced by his parents and support of
choral groups like 'Soul Believers' and Rainbow beats,' a foundation was laid
for the great tomorrow he envisaged.
Initially, as a teacher by profession the domineering influence
that music had on his life could not be resisted and so gave in and abandoned
the teaching profession, and went straight into the music industry and recorded
his first track, a single called 'Obiara nfan'adwene mbra', literally meaning
let's put our heads together. When the two musical groups were dissolved, he
was compelled to form his own band, Kum Apem Royals, a group which was going to
influence the lives of other equally great musicians, and later recorded two
'Wo ye Ananse a meye Ntikuma'.
This became the foundation and opened up the flow of some of his
great hits that were to pass the test of time which included 'Girl bi nti'
meaning because of a certain girl; Opuro Kwaku (Kwaku as a squirrel) 'Time
Changes', 'Ehye wo bo', 'Fa no saa' (let it be) 'If you do good you do for yourself'
'Ebe to Da' (Time will tell).
Akwasi recorded nearly 40 singers and about 35 albums. Blessed
with an inborn gift of proverbial lyrical capability and a great sense of
innovation through his music he has given comfort, solace and indirect advice
to humbled hearts and victims of indecision of life.
His life has been decorated in the glittering awards, some of
which came his way in 1985 when he was voted the 'Best Band Of The Year', given
a certificate and a silver cup for keeps.
In a progressive march towards stardom, he won the Leisure Award
with his band being voted 'Band Of The Year. Five years later, he was among ten
selected bands awarded and honoured with a citation and a Sharp tape recorder
by the National Commission on Culture.
It was like a bombshell when it was made known to him that his
track a high life hit 'Wo tee tee me mfa to ha' had been voted the best
Highlife Song of the Year. As if the floodgates of fortune had been flung open,
he was honoured with a cash prize of ¢500,000 in 1990 by the Oversight
Committee of COSGA in recognition of his immense contribution to the
improvement of the music industry in Ghana.
As a sign of appreciation of Akwasi Ampofo Adjei's music talent
and industry, a brand new Bedford truck was given to motivate him by Kofi Owusu
aka Owner. It was the beginning of another flood, with A.K. Brobbey who
donating a set of musical instruments to boost his musical effort and a further
undisclosed donation by a Mr Asenso.
One of the landmarks in the success story of Akwasi Ampofo Adjei
is the professional handling of his music products by Isaac Taylor whose
sterling qualities helped to bring A.A.A. out of the 1980's music groove to
retain his limelight to still become a hot and marketable material up till
today in his albums. Much of his achievement has been due to the kind of
relationship which subsisted between Isaac Taylor and A.A.A. and worked for
good any time he was going to record in the studios.
Taylor influenced Akwasi greatly and took him on a tour to
Germany, Holland, France and the UK. He also Ivory Coast, Togo, Liberia,
Nigeria and many other countries.
Many big stars have passed under his tutelage, including
Abrantie Amakye Dede, Charles Kwadwo Fosu alias Daddy Lumba, K.K. Kabobo, just
to mention few
Akwasi Ampofo Adjei died at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in
Kumasi on the 2nd August 2014 after
a short illness.
He was 57.
The 10th Memorial Anniversary Celebration of Mr. AAA has been
declared a home coming for many to Asante Mampong, the home of the legend.
#SKERY_SPARK_TALK.
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