Charles Kofi Mann
Birth nameCharles Kofi Amankwaa Mann
Also known asC. K. Mann
Born1936
Cape Coast
DiedMarch 20, 2018 (aged 81–82)
Takoradi
GenresHighlife
Years active1960–2013

Charles Kofi Amankwaa Mann (1936 – March 20, 2018), known as C. K. Mann, was a Ghanaian highlife musician and producer. His music career spanned over four decades; he won multiple awards for his songs. He was awarded the Grand Medal of Ghana by John Agyekum Kufour in 2006.

Life and career

C. K. Mann was born in 1936[1] in Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana. He worked briefly as a seaman before joining Moses Kweku Oppong's Kakaiku band.[2]

After familiarizing himself with the Ghanaian music scene, he joined Ocean Strings and led the band until 1965. When the band was disbanded, he joined a newly formed band in Takoradi, The Carousel 7. He came to prominence in 1969 when he released his single "Edina Benya". It was he who impressed on the band's owner, Anis Mubarak, to sign Paapa Yankson to the group.[3] Mann added Western musical instruments to Osode, the traditional music of Ghanaian fishermen rhythms.[1]

Mann died in at the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GHAPOHA) hospital in Takoradi on March 20, 2018, after an unspecified disease intensified the previous December.[4]

Discography

Mann had several hit songs, including "Adwoa Yankey", "Asafo beesuon", "Obaa yaa aye me bone", "Kolomashie", "Dofo bi akyerew me", "Ankwasema dede", "Okwan tsentsen awar", "Aboa akonkoran", "Beebi a odo wo", "Tsie m'afotusem", "Ebusua ape adze aye me", "Yebeyi wo aye", and "Do me ma mondo wo bi".[5] His last album, Wope Nye Ho was produced by West Gold Music Studio in Takoradi and released in 2013.[6]

Recognition

In 2006, Mann was awarded the Grand Medal of Ghana during the 2006 National Honours and Awards Ceremony by President John Agyekum Kufour in recognition of his contribution to Ghanaian music.[7] He was among the first recipients of this award after the ceremony was revamped in 2006.[7][8]

A street in Anaji (a suburb of Takoradi) has been named after Mann.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Ghana's Highlife Music Collection C.K. Mann". Fondation-Langlois. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Artist Biography by Adam Greenberg". All Music. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "Paapa Yankson Profile". Ghana Web. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Highlife legend CK Mann passes on - citifmonline.com". citifmonline.com. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "C.K. Mann & his Carousel 7". Global Groovers. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "C.K Mann Is Back To Revive Highlife Music". Modern Ghana. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Ghana Honours Her Heroes, Heroines". Ghana Web. 1 July 2006. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "Ghana Honours Her Heroes, Heroines". Modern Ghana. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "C.K. Mann Avenue". Gh.Geoview. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.