Ebo Taylor

Ebo Taylor (born Deroy Taylor; 6 January 1936 – 7 February 2026) was a Ghanaian guitarist, composer, bandleader, record producer and arranger focusing on highlife and afrobeat music. Quotes "I was born to do this and it's the only thing I want to continue doing." Ebo Taylor, interview with Rebelbase, 2011. "Yeah, that song has a special meaning to me, because I wrote it when my first wife left me. That situation left me distraught and made me realise love and death are really closely related." Ebo Taylor, interview with Rebelbase, 2011. "It's important we help the future generations develop our musical heritage further." Ebo Taylor, interview with Rebelbase, 2011. "Highlife was very popular with Africans in London! It was a powerful reminder of home.” Ebo Taylor, The Vinyl Factory, 2018. “Most young musicians in Ghana are getting their ideas from overseas, and maybe mixing in some highlife or Afrobeat. But some people are looking back into earlier forms of music." Ebo Taylor, The Vinyl Factory, 2018. "I do believe that it is important for music to progress, otherwise it just becomes something for museums, but you have to know your traditional culture before you start adding things to it.” Ebo Taylor, The Vinyl Factory, 2018. “I feel like I’m still playing jazz but with Ghanaian rhythms.” Ebo Taylor, The Vinyl Factory, 2018. “There are American influences in my music but there is African culture behind it.” Ebo Taylor, The Vinyl Factory, 2018. “It is still a minority of people who are interested in traditional music.” Ebo Taylor, The Vinyl Factory, 2018. “Rhythms live inside people naturally. The instinctive feeling then pushes you to learn from the experiences of people around you,” Ebo Taylor, Passion of the Weiss, 2025. “Highlife music has inspired and had significant impact on the people of Ghana and beyond because of its cultural heritage, fusion, lyrical storytelling, infectious rhythms and so on. Ghanaian highlife has a rich history and its development is closely tied to the country’s cultural,social and political evolution. The music shifted because the musical roots lie in traditional folk music, with diverse styles and instruments specific to various ethnic groups such as the Akan, Ewe and Dagomba.” Ebo Taylor, Passion of the Weiss, 2025. External link Category: Living people Category: 1936 births Category:People from Ghana Category: Guitarists Category: Producers Category: Composers