Ebo Taylor’s Americas Farewell Tour with Special Guest Pat Thomas – New York City

Americas Farewell Tour

At 89 years of age, the Ghanaian highlife and afrobeat pioneer Ebo Taylor traveled to the US for the very first time to perform at the now iconic Jazz Is Dead concert series, dubbed – Americas Farewell Tour with special guest appearance by Pat Thomas. This long-awaited moment marks an extraordinary chapter in the rich tapestry of world music, as audiences have an opportunity to witness the magic and talent of an artist whose influence has transcended generations.

Ebo Taylor and his family have decided to make this tour his official farewell to the Americas. This heartfelt decision comes after a remarkable career that has spanned decades, filled with groundbreaking compositions and collaborations that have enriched the highlife and afrobeat genres. As one of the most respected figures in the music industry, Taylor’s contributions have shaped the sounds of many contemporary artists, making this farewell even more poignant.

We are thrilled to extend an invitation to fans, lovers of music, and those who cherish African heritage to attend these special performances. This will be our final opportunity to honor the legendary maestro, the pioneer of highlife and father of Afrobeat, and give him his flowers while he can still appreciate the love and admiration from his audience.

If you have not yet purchased tickets, please see dates and cities below. We would love for you to join us and be a part of this very historic moment when Ebo Taylor, one of Africa’s most influential artists, says his farewell to the Americas. Your presence at these shows will not only celebrate Ebo’s incredible legacy but also create lasting memories for all who attend. This is more than just a concert; it’s a celebration of a life dedicated to music and culture, an opportunity to connect with the rhythms and stories that have shaped so many lives. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience!

About Ebo Taylor

Born in 1936, Ghanaian guitarist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and producer Ebo Taylor has been a vital presence in African music for more than half-a-century. During the early ’60s, he was active in the influential highlife bands the Stargazers and the Broadway Dance Band whose singles were mainstays on national radio.

In 1962 he took his Black Star Highlife Band to London and collaborated with other African musicians who were also in Britain at the time, including Fela Kuti. Back in Ghana, he worked as an influential producer, crafting recordings for Pat Thomas (his future collaborator) and C.K. Mann, among many others.

During the ’70s, his own musical projects combined traditional Ghanaian music with Afro-beat, jazz, and funk, creating a trademark sound as evidenced by the albums Ebo Taylor & the Pelikans (1976) and Twer Nyame (1978). In the ’80s, albums such as Conflict Nkru! and Hitsville Re-Visited (co-billed to Thomas) by his Uhuru-Yenzu band delivered a rawer, more immediate sound. Over the next two decades, Taylor was a noted producer, arranger, and composer, working with Thomas, Mann, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Kofi Yankson, and dozens of others.

He returned to performing live in the early 21st century after hip-hop producers began sampling his work.  Soundways Records  released the compilation Ghana Special. In 2010, Strut Records released Love and Death, his first internationally distributed album, followed by a series of catalog reissues and all-new recordings including 2018’s Yen Ara.

About Pat Thomas

Pat Thomas is a Ghanaian vocalist and songwriter famed for his work in the highlife bands of Ebo Taylor and his own recordings of Afrobeat and Afro-pop. Born in Agona, in the Ashanti region, Thomas had music almost literally in his DNA, his father was a music theory instructor and his mother a bandleader. In the 1970s, he moved to Accra to join Ebo Taylor’s legendary highlife band The Blue Monks; their residency at the Tip Toe Night Club is an important part of modern Ghanaian cultural history. In the later years he moved to the Ivory Coast and produced various records in Afro-beat, Afro-Latin sounds and reggae melded to funky African disco.