The Tempos: Difference between revisions
Category: Musical group
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[[File:MuGlobe-55c1f73d114a4ea4.jpg|thumb|right|320px|alt=The Tempos' bandleader E.T. Mensah with fellow highlife musician Victor Olaiya.|The Tempos' bandleader [[E. T. Mensah|E.T. Mensah]] with fellow [[Highlife|highlife]] musician Victor Olaiya.<br />Image: Photographer not named by source; published by Music In Africa; Music In Africa; accompanying album review by Ed Keazor. [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ CC BY-NC 4.0]. [https://musicinafrica.net/magazine/kings-highlife-etmensah-and-victor-olaiya/ Source].]] | |||
== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
The Tempos was a Ghanaian dance band best known through the leadership and recordings of [[E. T. Mensah]]. Its touring and records were important vehicles for the spread of [[Highlife|highlife]] during the 1950s and 1960s.<ref name="tempos-retro">[https://www.forcedexposure.com/Catalog/mensah-the-tempos-e-t-king-of-highlife-anthology-4cd/RETRO.024CD.html RetroAfric / Forced Exposure: King of Highlife Anthology]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> | The Tempos was a [[Music of Ghana|Ghanaian]] dance band best known through the leadership and recordings of [[E. T. Mensah]]. Its touring and records were important vehicles for the spread of [[Highlife|highlife]] during the 1950s and 1960s.<ref name="tempos-retro">[https://www.forcedexposure.com/Catalog/mensah-the-tempos-e-t-king-of-highlife-anthology-4cd/RETRO.024CD.html RetroAfric / Forced Exposure: King of Highlife Anthology]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
The band existed before Mensah became its celebrated leader. The museum biography places his arrival in 1947 under Joe Kelly, followed by a reconstituted ensemble. Recording for Decca and extensive travel brought the name to audiences beyond Ghana.<ref name="tempos-archive">[https://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/page.php?NumPage=2278 Ghana’s Highlife Music Collection:] [[E. T. Mensah|E.T. Mensah]] and the Tempos. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> | The band existed before [[E. T. Mensah|Mensah]] became its celebrated leader. The museum biography places his arrival in 1947 under Joe Kelly, followed by a reconstituted ensemble. Recording for Decca and extensive travel brought the name to audiences beyond [[Music of Ghana|Ghana]].<ref name="tempos-archive">[https://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/page.php?NumPage=2278 Ghana’s Highlife Music Collection:] [[E. T. Mensah|E.T. Mensah]] and the Tempos. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> | ||
== Music and repertoire == | == Music and repertoire == | ||
Swing orchestras provided one model alongside local dances, [[Calypso|calypso]] and Latin music. Brass, voices and a rhythm section made highlife into large-ensemble dance music. The 69-track ''King of Highlife Anthology'' brings together hits and less accessible recordings.<ref name="tempos-retro" /> | [[Swing]] orchestras provided one model alongside local dances, [[Calypso|calypso]] and Latin music. Brass, voices and a rhythm section made [[Highlife|highlife]] into large-ensemble dance music. The 69-track ''King of Highlife Anthology'' brings together hits and less accessible recordings.<ref name="tempos-retro" /> | ||
== Members and collaborators == | == Members and collaborators == | ||
Mensah contributed instrumental playing, composition and leadership; Joe Kelly belongs to the earlier history. The band name spans different periods and lineups. Album and session credits should therefore identify the actual players on a recording, rather than assuming that every Tempos performance has the same personnel.<ref name="tempos-archive" /> | [[E. T. Mensah|Mensah]] contributed instrumental playing, composition and leadership; Joe Kelly belongs to the earlier history. The band name spans different periods and lineups. Album and session credits should therefore identify the actual players on a recording, rather than assuming that every Tempos performance has the same personnel.<ref name="tempos-archive" /> | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Latest revision as of 00:23, 24 October 2026
Image: Photographer not named by source; published by Music In Africa; Music In Africa; accompanying album review by Ed Keazor. CC BY-NC 4.0. Source.
Summary
The Tempos was a Ghanaian dance band best known through the leadership and recordings of E. T. Mensah. Its touring and records were important vehicles for the spread of highlife during the 1950s and 1960s.[1]
History
The band existed before Mensah became its celebrated leader. The museum biography places his arrival in 1947 under Joe Kelly, followed by a reconstituted ensemble. Recording for Decca and extensive travel brought the name to audiences beyond Ghana.[2]
Music and repertoire
Swing orchestras provided one model alongside local dances, calypso and Latin music. Brass, voices and a rhythm section made highlife into large-ensemble dance music. The 69-track King of Highlife Anthology brings together hits and less accessible recordings.[1]
Members and collaborators
Mensah contributed instrumental playing, composition and leadership; Joe Kelly belongs to the earlier history. The band name spans different periods and lineups. Album and session credits should therefore identify the actual players on a recording, rather than assuming that every Tempos performance has the same personnel.[2]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 RetroAfric / Forced Exposure: King of Highlife Anthology. Accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ghana’s Highlife Music Collection: E.T. Mensah and the Tempos. Accessed 23 October 2026.
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Source: The Tempos — https://wiki.muglobe.com/wiki/The_Tempos
Third-party material retains its credited licenses.
Source: The Tempos — https://wiki.muglobe.com/wiki/The_Tempos