E. T. Mensah: Difference between revisions
Category: Musician
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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 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 == | ||
E. T. Mensah (1919–1996), born Emmanuel Tetteh Mensah, was a Ghanaian instrumentalist, composer and bandleader associated with the dance-band development of [[Highlife|highlife]]. His career with [[The Tempos|the Tempos]] helped carry that music across national borders.<ref name="et-archive">[https://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/page.php?NumPage=2278 Ghana’s Highlife Music Collection: E.T. Mensah; Gramophone Records Museum, biography by John Collins]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> | E. T. Mensah (1919–1996), born Emmanuel Tetteh Mensah, was a [[Music of Ghana|Ghanaian]] instrumentalist, composer and bandleader associated with the dance-band development of [[Highlife|highlife]]. His career with [[The Tempos|the Tempos]] helped carry that music across national borders.<ref name="et-archive">[https://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/page.php?NumPage=2278 Ghana’s Highlife Music Collection: E.T. Mensah; Gramophone Records Museum, biography by] [[John Collins]]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> | ||
== Life and career == | == Life and career == | ||
He learned flute and piccolo at school in Accra and joined the Accra Orchestra in 1932. Alto saxophone work in several orchestras preceded his return to Accra and [[The Tempos|the Tempos]] in 1947. Decca recording began in 1952; 'Ghana Freedom Highlife' marked independence in 1957. A 1969 British tour included recording in London.<ref name="et-archive" /> | He learned flute and piccolo at school in Accra and joined the Accra Orchestra in 1932. Alto saxophone work in several orchestras preceded his return to Accra and [[The Tempos|the Tempos]] in 1947. Decca recording began in 1952; 'Ghana Freedom Highlife' marked independence in 1957. A 1969 British tour included recording in [[Music of London|London]].<ref name="et-archive" /> | ||
== Music and style == | == Music and style == | ||
Mensah's ensemble brought local dance forms into conversation with swing-band organization, [[Jazz|jazz]], Latin music and [[Calypso|calypso]]. The RetroAfric anthology notes identify [[Fela Kuti]] among the younger musicians affected by his example. That influence concerned touring bands and arrangements as well as individual songs.<ref name="et-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, release notes]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> | Mensah's ensemble brought local dance forms into conversation with [[Swing|swing]]-band organization, [[Jazz|jazz]], Latin music and [[Calypso|calypso]]. The RetroAfric anthology notes identify [[Fela Kuti]] among the younger musicians affected by his example. That influence concerned touring bands and arrangements as well as individual songs.<ref name="et-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, release notes]. Accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> | ||
== Works and performances == | == Works and performances == | ||
''The King of Highlife – African Rhythms'' documents the London sessions. The later ''King of Highlife Anthology'' gathers recordings from a much larger career, including material originally issued on 78 rpm discs. Together they offer ways to follow the changing recorded sound of a dance orchestra over time.<ref name="et-archive" /><ref name="et-retro" /> | ''The King of Highlife – African Rhythms'' documents the [[Music of London|London]] sessions. The later ''King of Highlife Anthology'' gathers recordings from a much larger career, including material originally issued on 78 rpm discs. Together they offer ways to follow the changing recorded sound of a dance orchestra over time.<ref name="et-archive" /><ref name="et-retro" /> | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Latest revision as of 00:21, 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
E. T. Mensah (1919–1996), born Emmanuel Tetteh Mensah, was a Ghanaian instrumentalist, composer and bandleader associated with the dance-band development of highlife. His career with the Tempos helped carry that music across national borders.[1]
Life and career
He learned flute and piccolo at school in Accra and joined the Accra Orchestra in 1932. Alto saxophone work in several orchestras preceded his return to Accra and the Tempos in 1947. Decca recording began in 1952; 'Ghana Freedom Highlife' marked independence in 1957. A 1969 British tour included recording in London.[1]
Music and style
Mensah's ensemble brought local dance forms into conversation with swing-band organization, jazz, Latin music and calypso. The RetroAfric anthology notes identify Fela Kuti among the younger musicians affected by his example. That influence concerned touring bands and arrangements as well as individual songs.[2]
Works and performances
The King of Highlife – African Rhythms documents the London sessions. The later King of Highlife Anthology gathers recordings from a much larger career, including material originally issued on 78 rpm discs. Together they offer ways to follow the changing recorded sound of a dance orchestra over time.[1][2]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ghana’s Highlife Music Collection: E.T. Mensah; Gramophone Records Museum, biography by John Collins. Accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 RetroAfric / Forced Exposure: King of Highlife Anthology, release notes. Accessed 23 October 2026.
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Source: E. T. Mensah — https://wiki.muglobe.com/wiki/E._T._Mensah
Third-party material retains its credited licenses.
Source: E. T. Mensah — https://wiki.muglobe.com/wiki/E._T._Mensah