The Tempos
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.
Third-party material retains its credited licenses.
Source: The Tempos — https://wiki.muglobe.com/wiki/The_Tempos