Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is a Ghanaian highlife legend. His ingenious way of experimenting with the genre by mixing in funk, rap and soul keeps DJs reaching for his records to get dancers moving.
In 1973, Gyedu-Blay's sound was propelled to the international stage when Soundway Records released his hit song, "Simigwado." Simigwa is not only the root word of this song title, but it's also the name Gyedu-Blay gave to his special brand of highlife. With many more simigwa hits like this, Gyedu-Blay went on to influence young Ghanaian hiplife artists with his music.
Also influenced by Gyedu-Blay's music is Afropop producer and Brooklyn-based DJ, Morgan Greenstreet, A.K.A. DJ Modrums. DJ Modrums hosts a champeta-style party called Terapia & Verbena every second Saturday at Threes Brewing in Brooklyn, and to kick off the first party last Saturday, he remixed "Simigwado." Listen to the dance-floor remix below, and if you're in New York City, check out Terapia & Verbena here.
